Here in the US, the orientation programs vary greatly from one university to the next. In general, they all try to give students information to be able to handle the new lifestyle they will live, especially if they are living on the campus. New students usually arrive at the university a week or two (sometime more) before the semester begins. They attend lectures and "mini classes" on a lot of different topics. For example, they learn about how university classes are different from high school classes, how they should organize their time, how they should study, how to use the library and the online resources, etc. Also, they learn about staying physically healthy. It's easy for new students to gain weight because they eat a lot of junk food because they not getting mom's regular meals. They learn about the gym and what is available as far as exercise programs, what to do in an emergency, what services the health center provides. Another part of orientation is learning about social activities at the school, how to join sports teams, how to find out about student clubs and organizations, etc. There's a lot to learn. Some colleges and universities do a really good job; others not so good. The orientation is important because if the student can't survive his or her first semester at the university, the university will probably lose that student for good.