Over the nine days from 20 through to 28 August, some 1,300 fresh new bachelor's students and 400 new master's students will experience the Kick-In, the University of Twente's introduction days. The varied Kick-In programme is held together by the central theme of OpenMindUT, which is all about pushing borders. This year's Kick-In will be an even more impressive spectacle, as we celebrate its 50th anniversary.
Kick-In's nine introduction days will have students get to know the campus, the city, and each other. The introduction period's intensive, packed and varied programme is all about education, sports, culture and fun. This year's Kick-In theme is: OpenMindUT. In the words of Mirthe van Erp, Technical Medicine student and chair of the Kick-In Committee: "Your time as a student is the foremost time in your life for you to develop yourself and be open to new experiences and new people. Our OpenMindUT theme is all about making new students experience this for themselves."
Charity
Like in previous years, funds will be raised for charity. This year, the money thus raised will be awarded to Fight cancer, a foundation aiming to make young adults aware of the importance of fighting cancer and to encourage them to take action. Committee member Jelmer Verkleij has elected to 'donate' his hair: "All participants donating money may vote on the hairdo Jelmer will sport by the end of Kick-In", van Erp explains. All funds raised by Fight cancer will be used for scientific research into, and prevention of, cancer, by way of the Dutch Cancer Society.
Student Life Festival
A new addition to Kick-In is the Student Life Festival. On the last of the nine introduction days, all sports, culture and hobby clubs and societies join forces and pull out all the stops by organising a full-on festival to present student life in Enschede. In addition to receiving information about the various clubs and societies, participants can attend all sorts of workshops and join in on a number of activities. What's more, the grounds will be abuzz with all sorts of attractions while life music is performed on stage.
Storming and world record attempt
Old favourites will also return as part of the Kick-In programme. During one of the yearly highlights, the Storming of the Bastille, students will be able to put the OpenMindUT theme into practice. First-year students will climb the Bastille building on campus by way of a veritable assault course - a team-building activity synonymous with Kick-In in the minds of many a student. Van Erp: "By completing the course, new students will show they are truly ready for this new and exciting new stage of their life that is their student period. Our hope is that they truly get their kick on!"
Another Kick-In tradition is the annual world record attempt. Last year, with 749 participants, the world record on throwing shaving cream pies was broken. This year the organizers hope to set a world record with bottle bash soccer.
About Kick-In
When the University of Twente first opened its doors in 1964, the decision was made that the start of the academic year ought to be a different sort of experience for students than had previously been the case. The focus was to be on the integration of education, studies and student life. Over time, this concept evolved into the modern-day Kick-In, a model that came to serve as an example for all university introduction periods in the Netherlands. The organisation of the Kick-In introduction period is in the hands of students. Kick-In welcomes some 1,700 participants each year.
Visit the Kick-In Committee's website for more information and the programme.
Pictures Kick-In 2013: Gijs van Ouwerkerk
