Institute of Continuing Education (ICE)
Submitted by Carla Dobson-Pérez on Mon, 08/07/2019 - 15:51
"We offer over 200 courses and our participants are teachers, actors, entrepreneurs, computer programmers, lawyers, musicians, scientists, designers, journalists… And they come from any one of 75 different countries,” explains Director of International Summer Programmes and Lifelong Learning, Sarah Ormrod. “Some come for one week, others for two, and a few for the full six, but every year, around 20% of our attendees have studied with us before. We love welcoming them back.”
One such returnee is Rolando, an educator from the Philippines: “I came to the Summer Programmes in 2017, mainly to study the Classical Worlds programme, but I was able to enrol on a week-long Science programme too,” says Rolando. “It was such an enriching experience that I came back to study three more programmes last summer."
“The subjects I’ve studied have served many purposes for my life. As a teacher, I’ve learned about the latest developments in my own specialism. As an art and antiquities collector, I’ve immersed myself in deepening my passion and been able to visit incredible museums like the Fitzwilliam while I’m here. I also founded my own school prior to taking the ICE courses, so I’ve been able to further develop my skills through the Business and Entrepreneurship programme too. The interactions I’ve had at ICE make me a better teacher, collector, businessman and human being.”
“It’s great to engage directly with distinguished academics, but it’s also about the other students here. The Summer Programmes are a unique opportunity for me to meet like-minded people from many different nations, backgrounds and ages. I’ve been able to absorb many alternative perspectives that I wouldn’t otherwise be exposed to, and I’ve made real friends here.”
Anita, a voice physician from the UK, agrees: “Exposure to so many minds and ideas was truly enriching. Conversations over breakfasts, in the classes, and with others on different disciplines were so beyond ‘normal’ that my mind never stopped buzzing.”
Leeanne from Australia, another student of the Business and Entrepreneurship programme, notes how these intensive, residential programmes can be great networking opportunities: “It has been inspiring to hear from such qualified lecturers and to study with such a wide range of age groups and nationalities. Many are now my new friends and business colleagues!”
“Some of the people we see during the summer are meeting up with fellow students they first met here 20 years ago – and they’re bringing friends and family from home with them now, too,” adds Sarah Ormrod.
“Our returners are our greatest ambassadors: it’s a real endorsement of the programmes to see so many back each year.”
To find out more about International Summer Programmes at ICE, visit: www.ice.cam.ac.uk/intsummer
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This article was originally published as part of the 2019 Easter term and Long Vacation edition of Inside ICE.
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