A new academic year has officially begun at UPEI Cairo Campus, welcoming our newest students to campus for two days of connection, discovery, and new beginnings.
On September 23 and 24, 2026, UPEI Cairo hosted its First Year Experience (FYE), designed to help new students settle into university life, meet their peers, discover campus resources, and get to know the people and departments that will support them throughout their university journey.
Day One: Welcome to UPEI
The first day began with registration and a warm welcome, where students met their peer leaders and joined their assigned groups. From the very beginning, the focus was on building connections and helping students feel part of the UPEI community.
Students then attended the official welcome session in the auditorium, featuring remarks from Dr. Kim Critchley, UPEI Provost, and Mr. Paul Brandon, EDIN Director of Student Affairs.
The day continued with a series of sessions introducing students to essential campus services and resources, including IT, the Library, the Student Success Program, and the English for Academic Purposes (EAP) program.
Discovering Their Academic Journey
Students also met representatives from their respective academic faculties and learned more about their programs, expectations, and university experience.
The academic orientation introduced students to UPEI’s operating faculties:
* Faculty of Sustainable Design Engineering
* McDougall Faculty of Business
* Faculty of Mathematical and Computational Sciences
* Faculty of Arts
These sessions allowed students to connect with faculty members and better understand the academic environment they are joining.
The Mascot Heist: Learning Campus Through Adventure
One highlight of the first day was the Mascot Heist, an interactive scavenger hunt that turned a campus tour into an adventure.
Working in teams, students explored different areas of campus. They visited important offices and facilities they may rely on throughout their university journey, including student engagement, wellbeing, security, and other support services.
Rather than being shown where these services are located, students discovered them for themselves — helping them feel more confident navigating campus and knowing where to go when they need support.
The day concluded with additional sessions covering DMZ, Student Life and university facilities, the International Office, and Academic Integrity, followed by team activities and giveaways.
Day Two: Connect, Explore and Get Involved
The second day of the First Year Experience continued with students reconnecting with their peer leaders and reflecting on their first day on campus.
Students received further information about university resources and had the opportunity to share their feedback about the orientation experience.
Getting Active with UPEI Athletics
Students then headed to the football field for an interactive session with the Athletics Department.
The workshop introduced new students to UPEI’s sports community and the role of athletics on campus through an engaging activity designed to help students connect with the team in a fun and memorable way.
Interactive Workshops Across Campus
The afternoon brought a series of interactive workshops led by the Career Development Center (CDC), DMZ, and Wellness Center.
Through hands-on activities and team-based sessions, students learned more about the support, opportunities, and resources available to them beyond the classroom.
These workshops gave students a chance to discover how different parts of the UPEI community can contribute to their personal, academic, professional, and university experience.
A New Chapter Begins
The First Year Experience is more than an introduction to university. It marks the start of a new chapter—an opportunity for students to build friendships, meet their support network, explore campus, and begin creating their own UPEI experience.
As the Fall 2026 academic year gets underway, we look forward to seeing our newest students learn, grow, get involved, and make the most of everything UPEI Cairo has to offer.
Welcome to UPEI Cairo, Panthers. Your journey starts here!