Up in Scotland, students attending St Andrews University are really getting into the swing of things, making new friends, creating lifelong memories and having an absolute blast along the way!

At the end of the first week, we were delighted to see so many smiles and laughs from the photos taken at St Andrews, and from the looks of things the superb weather has accentuated the stunning surroundings making the experience even more spectacular for both students and the campus team.

To celebrate the end of the first week of lessons, the students enjoyed a slightly unusual party in that it involved some fun problem-solving challenges and games, including musical bingo, relay races involving transferring M&Ms from one bowl to another using only straws, practising chop stick skills and completing an obstacle course around the college. The team spirit was excellent!

A particular highlight for students last week was their Business trip to the Hydrogen Office project, an initiative that aims to demonstrate the role that energy efficiency, renewables and hydrogen can play in a sustainable and environmentally friendly energy supply. The £4.7m building is powered by a novel renewable and hydrogen energy system, using renewable energy when available from a wind turbine located within the adjacent docks, whilst storing surplus energy as hydrogen for a proportion of the building’s needs for periods where renewables are unable to meet demand. After a presentation and a tour, students had a hands-on experience with the equipment at the office and had to make a solar vehicle using K’Nex parts. The tour allowed the students to learn more about the characteristics of hydrogen, the role of hydrogen in energy storage systems and its ability to decarbonise energy supplies. You can see from the photos that the students really got stuck into the challenge and had a lot of fun racing their final solar vehicles!

The campus team and students have said that they loved spending evenings on West Sands beach, enjoying sunsets, beach games and for some even a dip in the sea! We couldn’t think of a more stunning scene for spending social time during an ORA Programme.

What really stands out, though, is the fun and enthusiasm had by the students during their scavenger hunt around St Andrews. There were no fears between the students as they recorded videos of themselves dancing, and taking humorous selfies in peculiar places around the city centre. The photos really sum up just how much fun these students are having – and it’s only the first week!

The counsellors are equally enjoying sharing the experience with their students, even getting involved with butterflies at the Botanical Gardens and Butterfly House, and celebrating Ilana’s birthday with a chocolate cake at the end of a jam-packed day.

The fun does not stop there: students still have another week of awesome activities, superb weather and insightful academic lessons to round off their Summer 2018 experience. The photos below say it all!