Volleyball club sees spike in international members

As more than 1000 international students begin life at Dundee, one of the University’s most established clubs is showing how participation in sports can help bring together people from around the world.

Dundee University Volleyball Club is one of the Sports Union’s biggest and most active clubs, with 219 members. Its men’s and women’s sides regularly record success and a busy social calendar helps cement lifelong friendships with teammates from across the globe.

The club’s membership is drawn from more than 40 countries, 24 of whom were represented at a recent nationality-themed training session. Many chose to wear their country’s colours with pride at the event.

Alice Saville, President of the Volleyball Club, said, “Sport enables integration, particularly at university, as students from all over the world can participate. It also allows people to find somewhere where they belong, far away from home. To me, the Dundee University Volleyball Club is a big family, where everyone 'fits in' no matter where they are from, and a club where friendships are made for life.

“With more than 1000 new international students arriving for the start of semester 2, the role of our sports clubs in helping international students integrate into university life and quickly make new friends has never been so significant.”

Volleyball Club member Ana Jurado, who was born in Spain and grew up in Denmark, added, “For me, the Dundee University Volleyball Club has provided a family and community away from home. I’ve moved around the world with my family my whole life, so moving alone to a different country, without a safety net, was a daunting experience. Now, the people I have met through the Volleyball Club have become this safety net and are just like family – I don’t ever feel lonely.”

The club’s current membership is currently drawn from the following countries – Algeria, Armenia, Austria, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, China, Denmark, England, Estonia, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malaysia, Moldova, Nepal, Nigeria, Northern Ireland, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Scotland, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Trinidad & Tobago, Turkey, Zimbabwe, Ukraine, United States, UAE, and Vietnam.

Dundee University Sports Union’s 46 clubs cater for beginners and experienced athletes across dozens of sports. The Sports Union works closely with Dundee’s Institute of Sport and Exercise to offer training and competition opportunities at top-class indoor and outdoor facilities.

More than 100 other clubs and societies at Dundee University Students’ Association enable local and international students alike to pursue a huge range of passions amongst likeminded people.