So it’s important to us that new arrivals quickly get a taste of an ecosystem where support, inclusion and fun are no less valuable than academic excellence and achievement. That’s why we host our annual IE Day, celebrating each new intake and welcoming the latest members of the IE University community.
This year’s IE Day was held on September 28 at IE Tower, our spectacular new campus in the heart of Madrid. And what a day it was, showcasing our spirit and traditions to our newest intake with a packed day of events that included fun competitions, live music, good food, sports and more.
Our amazing Student Experience team, composed by the Campus Life team and Sports & Well-being team, organizes each year’s IE Day, just one of the 1,500 yearly events they arrange. Running daily events from cultural experiences to sports, while also making sure there’s something for every one of our 6,000 students, makes Campus Life the beating heart of our diverse community.
¨All of IE University’s community—undergraduate and master’s students, faculty, alumni and staff—come together to celebrate being part of this unique university, the values of our institution and to have fun! It’s for our entire community.”
IE Campus Life team
Everybody pitches in
Astrid Chacón and Elisa Hicks from the Student Experience team explained they certainly count on a lot of support in arranging an event of this scale, on what’s a very important day in IE University’s calendar. “Community is everything for IE University,” they told us. “Our institution is what it is thanks to its people! This is why we continuously strive to create opportunities and spaces that strengthen our community, the sense of belonging and human connections.”
Certainly the number of departments involved in ensuring IE Day run smoothly shows that it’s a team effort. “This great event is led by the Student Experience Team, made up by Campus Life and Sports & Well-Being, with the support of IE Foundation, the Arts & Humanities Division, the Student Government, multiple student clubs, IE University departments and our mascot, CammIE,” Astrid and Elisa pointed out.
A lot going on
It’s no surprise that so many parts of the IE Community have to come together for IE Day to work so well, when you see the range of activities and the number of attendees. This year’s event included a performance from IE Cheerleaders, a DJ set from student Karim El Chakar, a blue donut station, face-painting, various sports including mini-basketball, photo shoots and a raffle with, said Astrid and Elisa, “some top-notch experiential prizes from Las Rozas Village, El Corte Inglés, Makan, Casa de México, Barceló Hotel Group, CHICK Fried Chicken, New York Burger, Rasif, OCINE and Grosso Napoletano.”
Astrid and Elisa were certainly convinced that everybody’s hard work paid off, with this year’s event actually surpassing their expectations. “In the years prior to the pandemic, IE Day had around 1,000 attendees. This year we were hoping to match that number, but were greatly surprised when over 2,400 people registered for the event. The campus was buzzing with life and contagious good vibes!”
“Anyone who doesn’t come is seriously missing out on so much! It was a day full of fun for all, students from different classes all together enjoying good music and food, dancing, playing games and getting to know each other more.”
Sam Ferdinand, Community Development Officer at IEU Student Government.
By students for students
For British-Spanish Dual Degree in Business Administration and International Relations student, Sam Ferdinand—a community development officer in the IE University Student Government involved in organizing IE Day—this was a day not to be missed. He says it’s a celebration of the whole community, “IE Day, especially this year, has been one of the best events to deepen the sense of community at IE University, and I’m really proud that so many people showed up.”
Sam’s view on what IE Day represent sum up our institution perfectly. “I feel identified by all of IE University’s values,” he said, ”but especially those of diversity, entrepreneurship and innovation.”
Live music from within the IE Community
The live music at this year’s IE Day was provided by members of the flourishing IE Music Club, one of over 100 student-run clubs within our community. French-Lebanese third-year Bachelor in International Relations student Jean-Baptiste El Khoury, “JB” to his friends, is one of the club’s 43 musicians and singers. He spoke proudly of his representative role at events like IE Day. “Music has always played a major social role throughout history. It holds the power to create bridges between cultures and languages and bring people together as one. Since its creation, the IE Music Club has had a very clear mission: to spread the love of music and to gather people around this wonderful art. And as part of this goal, we’re always happy to perform at any event, especially such an important one.” he explained.
“I have met so many incredible people in my three years at IE University, and I am so glad that the university gives us constant opportunities to develop human skills.”
Jean-Baptiste El Khoury, member of the IE Music Club.
Relive the fun, or see what you missed!
If you attended this year’s event, we hope you had as much fun as we did. If you didn’t, we’re sorry you couldn’t make it—you can check out some images to see what you missed on Instagram or YouTube. Our heartfelt thanks go out to every single member of our community who helped to organize the day, performed or simply came and got involved.
We think ours is a uniquely diverse, humanistic and creative community, and IE Day celebrate the values that make IE University such an incredible institution. #WeAreIE!