As part of the extracurricular programme for students attending ORA this summer, all colleges have the chance to experience an excursion with a Business slant, to give students a taster of possible career sectors and providing a ‘test drive’ (literally, in some cases!) of various professions.
The students staying in London, at Imperial College, took advantage of the Emirates Aviation Experience in Greenwich. The experience is guided by a trained simulator instructor, and is a great way to gain an insight into what it takes to fly a commercial aircraft. The students loved taking to the skies and being a pilot on an Airbus A380 or Boeing 777 plane! The whole afternoon was full of unique experiences, particularly in the dedicated exhibition where students learned more about the science of flight through interactive touch-screen sessions, real-life Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engines and an immense video wall playing an A380 aircraft turnaround with infographic facts. Students also sat back in a replica A380 economy seat and found out what happens ‘behind the scenes’ on the aircraft during a long-haul flight. The students also sat in the Emirates cable cars over the river Thames, enjoying the stunning skylines of London.
Over in Cambridge, the students staying at St Catharine’s had the chance to go on an Architecture Trip at the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, where they learned more about artefacts made by people across the world and throughout human history. For Students studying at Clare college, a visit to the Crystal in London provided insights into the future of cities, as well as one of the world’s most sustainable buildings and events venues. In this unique, interactive exhibition, the Crystal offers a rich resource of educational content dedicated to urban planning and sustainability, which the students found fascinating.
As outlined in the recent Spotlight blog on St Andrews, 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. After a presentation and a tour, students had a hands-on challenge with the equipment at the office and had to make a solar vehicle using K’Nex parts and then race them!
Students in all sessions at ORA experience academic trips or talks with guest speakers who run seminar sessions on their field of expertise, to stimulate students’ curiosity and answer their questions. So stay tuned for more updates on these types of activities across all campuses in our blogs this summer!
