Mapping our community

The School of History, Classics and Archaeology recently held an event to mark and celebrate the international diversity of students and staff within the School.

There's a new addition to the School of History, Classics and Archaeology (HCA). On the ground floor of the William Robertson Wing, just beside the corridor to the Chrystal MacMillan Building, you'll see a large map of the world, with lots of pins in it. It's the HCA Community World Map, celebrating the international diversity of the community at the School.

  • A group of students stand before the map discussing it
  • A female student with long blonde hair places a pin in the map
  • A male student and female member of staff discuss the map
  • A female student with long dark hair and glasses points to her hometown on the map
  • The HCA Community World Map

"The idea for a 'HCA Community Map' was one of the many excellent suggestions that came out of a consultation we ran last year asking our international students what we in HCA could do to enhance their experience across a range of areas," said Dr Donncha O'Rourke, Director of Students and Senior Lecturer in Classics. "In HCA more than a quarter of our undergraduate population, and more than three-quarters of our postgraduate taught students, are from overseas."

"We have Cristyn King, Student Experience Officer, to thank for assiduously tracking down the supplier of the map, and we hope students will enjoy using it to indicate their home country, thereby producing a visualization of HCA's international diversity."

Thanks to funding from a University initiative, HCA has been able to appoint two Community Champions for its international students in 2025-26 (Elizabeth Lau for undergraduate students and Zhichu Chen for postgraduate taught students). They organised the launch event for the map, which was held on 31 March, and profiled some of their other work at it, including the development of a 'survival kit' for new and continuing international students in the School, to be hosted on the Student Hub following further development over the summer.

"What we've built together is already growing"

Zhichu is one of two Community Champions within the School and is studying History (MSc).

Zhichu has dark hair and wears glasses. They are placing a pin in a map showing where in China they come from.

"Coming to HCA as an international student, I genuinely felt welcomed and a sense of belonging. There's something about this place that feels inclusive in a real way.

Taking on the role of Community Champion felt like a natural extension of that experience. Through organising events and putting together practical guidance, we aim to make other international students feel supported and create something that outlasts any one person.

What's been most rewarding is seeing that work translate into something tangible and visible. I truly feel that we're only just getting started. As the community map shows, what we've built together is already growing and I can't wait to see where it leads."

Tags

Equality, diversity and inclusion
School of History, Classics & Archaeology
Students
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