Last month, twenty University of Liverpool students took part in a week-long Summer School at the University of Georgia (UGA) in the USA. The programme was fully funded thanks to the generosity of University of Liverpool Alumni.
The students, who are all part of the University’s widening participation cohort, were taken on the trip to give them an insight into the possibilities a Global Opportunities programme can offer and to encourage them to apply for future programmes.
Experiencing college life in the USA
The students stayed on campus in university accommodation to fully experience college life in the US and toured the campus, including a stop at the 92,000+ capacity Sanford Stadium, home to the Georgia Bulldogs. The students also took part in academic sessions on a range of topics including Navigating Conflict, Civic Engagement, Diversity and Inclusion and Town & Gown Relations. There were also departmental visits to the College of Education and School for Public and International Affairs.
Exploring Georgia’s past and present
Outside of the academic sessions, the group met with local politicians including the Mayor of Athens and the Mayor of Monroe. They also visited the British Consulate in Atlanta and discussed diplomatic relations and cultural differences in the UK and Georgia.
While in Atlanta, the group were also invited to Coca-Cola HQ by its current CEO, and University of Liverpool alumni, James Quincy. After a tour of their headquarters, the students explored Coca-Cola World before a moving visit to the Centre for Civil and Human Rights. The programme ended with a visit to the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park, home to Dr King’s final resting place and his childhood home.
A life changing trip
The feedback from students taking part has been overwhelmingly positive. Participants improved their key skills such as confidence, independence, communication, networking and inter-cultural awareness. Lily, one of the students who took part in the programme said;
‘The trip to America was truly life changing! Never would I have thought that I could experience something like this. We were originally a group of 20 students who did not know each other and now we are best friends for life. Each one of us had a story and a reason for being accepted onto the trip, making it even more special. It was a once in a lifetime trip that was quite possibly the best week of my life, and I will be forever grateful to the alumni and friends for making it possible’
The University of Liverpool is committed to widening participation with our degree programmes and to nurturing local talent and potential. The Widening Participation and Outreach team run a large number of initiatives throughout the year to provide students with a sustained programme of academic support, as well as information, advice and guidance. For more information, please visit the Widening Participation and Outreach webpages.