ORA’s Summer 2019 programme at St Andrew’s has come to an end, as we wave goodbye to the summer’s second cohort. Their stay in Scotland has involved tremendous lessons, as well as exciting excursions and amazing activities which have given them a well-rounded and memorable experience.
A variety of fun and challenging academic programmes have kept them on their toes for the fortnight, as they have tackled theoretical and practical sessions with gusto! Their work has been geared towards their final projects and presentations, which they gave in front of an audience of their peers, as well as the ORA staff. The students’ work was excellent, thoroughly researched and outstandingly delivered, which is a testament to their positive attitudes to learning. They have certainly left a lasting impression on their teachers!
The academic programme has been backed up by an engaging series of talks and masterclasses. The Business and Enterprise students will have been particularly helped by the Marketing Masterclass – which looked at a number of key facets of the topic, as well as testing their newfound knowledge in ‘Dragon’s Den’ style challenge. There was also a talk on the art of negotiation, which was followed by another fun practical exercise, and the Great Debate, which was hosted by Dr Heather Cleland Woods of the University of Glasgow.
Outside of the classroom, the students have been able to enjoy lots of activities which embraced the Scottish culture. A visit to Edinburgh provided them with plenty of shopping and sightseeing opportunities, a trip to the St Andrews Botanic Garden had a calming influence as the programme neared its climax, and there were also evenings spent on the beach in the beautiful sunshine. The students also had an experience which many a golf fan would envy, as they played a round at ‘The Home of Golf’!
All of these activities, and the gorgeous sunshine, have helped to cement in place a fantastic harmony among the cohort. Everyone has been smiling and chatting, not only with one another but also with the staff, and it has made for a very pleasant two weeks. Social evening activities, such as karaoke, have only served to improve this, and the students will be heading home with a host of new friends.
The programme’s grand finale was a fine graduation ceremony, as the campus came together to celebrate the cohort’s fantastic achievements. With the students having worked so hard, it was great for them to feel the benefit of that, and they were all very proud to collect their awards. There were a number of special achievement awards handed out too, and the ORA counsellors handed out some funny awards to those students who’d made a particularly strong impression!
Summer 2019 in Scotland has been a fantastic success, as captured perfectly in the second session by our students. Everyone has embraced the wonderful opportunity that they have been given, worked hard, made friends and achieved great things. They have gained so much from this past fortnight, and it will all be useful for them going forward. Great things are in their futures, especially if their time at St Andrews is anything to go by. Bonne chance!