UEL students enjoy trip of a lifetime to India
Fifty students broaden their cultural understanding with fully funded study trip to Mumbai
The students, some of whom had never been abroad before, enjoyed a five-day study trip to Mumbai, focusing on global awareness, social justice, sustainability, smart cities and inclusion.
The Mumbai2017 programme was organised jointly by UEL’s Office for Civic Engagement, Noon Centre and the Academic Partnerships Office, providing an immersive study abroad experience featuring civic engagement, equality and diversity and cross-cultural understanding.
They were hosted by 12 students from NITIE University, with firm friendships being made between students from the two institutions.
Dr Jana Javornik, Director of the Noon Centre at UEL, said, “We could see at first hand fantastic friendships developing and blossoming. Helping students to get a deepening sense of 'others' is at the heart of what we do at UEL, and what good global learning is all about.
She said one of biggest impressions made on her by the trip was to witness the gap between Mumbai's richest and poorest.
“Actually witnessing the issues that we had been discussing in class allowed me to share an informed opinion and I have no doubt that this experience will help me in my next academic year.”
She said, “I’m hoping to turn the footage that I got on this trip into a documentary to make people more aware of the issues in India, and to raise awareness of the poverty levels there.”
Gail May, UEL’s Director of Civic Engagement, said “Our students were fantastic throughout the entire experience acting as ambassadors for UEL and showcasing our diversity, adaptability, compassion and commitment to social action and social justice.”