8 July 2024
During their first week at the OIC Oxford Center, students were able to partake in a wide range of creative activities: they thoroughly enjoyed being given the opportunity to customise their key cards with permanent markers and decorate their water bottles with stickers. This not only ensured they were attached to some of the most important items they would be using on a daily basis, but also allowed them to express their individual identities within a big group setting. In order to balance the highly intensive academic programme, the students took part in multiple different sports games such as basketball, volleyball and bulldog, a classic English playground game.
Given the university focus put forward by their course, students were shown round some of the most famous colleges and institutions in Oxford, Cambridge and London. Whilst on their first big excursion to Cambridge, they were also able to admire historical sites such as the Bridge of Sighs and King’s College from the comfort of traditional punting boats. The following day they set off to London, where they explored the Natural History Museum by means of a scavenger hunt which placed emphasis on the importance of teamwork. After which, they toured the royal apartments of Kensington Palace where some members of the royal family still live to this day.
After crossing through Hyde Park and passing by the Royal Albert Hall, the week ended with a highly competitive pub quiz. This staple of British university culture, alongside a staff Kahoot allowed the students to put to the test not only their knowledge of Oxford and the UK, but also of the staff who have been alongside them on their academic journey.