Posts Tagged: UK
14
Mar 11
Prince William, Kate Middleton and the University of St Andrews
The Royal Couple, Prince William and Kate Middleton, who will marry on April 29, visited the University of St Andrews in Scotland to mark its 600th anniversary, which was celebrated at the end of February. It must have been a trip down memory lane for Prince William and his fiancee as the couple met and fell in love at St Andrews.
In their first year they were taking art history together, and they eventually became friendly and started socialising more often. At the time however, Miss Middleton was dating another student. In their second year they began sharing a house with two other friends. Teachers at St Andrews say that it’s thanks to the university’s close-knit community that the couple kept their romance a secret. No one knows exactly when their relation became serious but it is rumoured to be around Christmas 2003. The Royal Couple both graduated in 2005. Prince William with an Honours Degree in Geography and Miss Middleton with an Honours Degree in Art History.
Over the centuries St Andrews has gained a reputation as one of Britain’s top match-making universities, with students there having about a one in 10 chance of meeting their life partner. Founded in 1413 St Andrews is the third oldest university in the English speaking world.
Source: telegraph.co.uk
4
Mar 11
Old School: Europe’s Oldest University Towns
Bologna, Italy
Università di Bologna founded in 1088, is considered the oldest degree-awarding institute in Europe and also the oldest continually operating university in the world. Bologna is a lively and cosmopolitan Italian university town, famous for its rich history, art, cuisine, music and culture. Classes are taught almost exclusively in Italian so if you’d like to study there you need to speak at least intermediate Italian.
Oxford, England
Since it’s establishment in 1096, Oxford University has produced 47 Nobel Laureates, 26 British Prime Ministers and at least twelve saints. It’s the oldest university in the English-speaking world. If you plan to travel to the UK, Oxford offers a range of extended guided tours, which show you the interior of the different buildings that form the historic heart of the university. The magnificent Bodleian library for example, was used for filming Harry Potter.
Salamanca, Spain
The University of Salamanca was founded in 1134 and is the oldest university in operation in Spain, and the first European university to receive the title of “University” as such. In 1929 the university added Spanish Language & Cultural Courses for foreigners to it’ s curricula. Today, more than 3,500 foreign students and teachers from all over the world come to learn and improve their Spanish. In 1988 the old city of Salamance was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Montpellier, France
The University of Montpellier located on the Mediteranean coast, was founded in 1220 and is even older than the famous Sorbone University in Paris. University of Montpellier boasts the oldest medical school in the western world. The Museum of Anatomy of Montpellier’s Faculty of Medicine is housed in the Anatomy Conservatory which was first opened in 1794. If you have strong nerves you can visit the surgical theatre, which opened in 1806 and is one of the first purpose-built examples of it’s kind.
Source: Wikipedia and university websites
25
Feb 11
How to Improve Your Online Image
Have you recently graduated from college and are looking for a job? There is one thing you should bare in mind: recruiters will review some social media sites to do a background check on you. Most young people tend to express themselves freely on social sites like MySpace, Facebook or Twitter, and a Microsoft survey found that 70% of recruiters rejected a candidate based on their online reputation.
Don´t worry, we have some tips on how to repair your online image:
1.Google Yourself
Google your name and variations of it to read what has been written about you. The Search Engine Results can reveal a lot, and some of that information could be misleading. Take time to remove these negative search results. You don’t want a recruiter to uncover unfavourable or even false information about you.
2.Clean up Your Profiles
You don’t want information that you share on your profile to be used against you. Visit your favourite social media sites to check if anything unsuitable needs to be removed.
3.Protect Your Privacy
Go through your contacts and assign them to different groups: eg. friends, limited profile view and acquaintances. You can decide what sort of information you want to share with each group. You can also decide if you want to appear in public search results. Investigate the options carefully.
4.Use a Professional Email Address
ThePirateMajesty@cutey.com or DjTara@popstar.com are funky emails for music forum members but not for serious job applicants. Be more mainstream and establish your email account at Hotmail, Gmail or Yahoo. The safest would be a combination of your name and surname.
3.Update Your Photos
The photos you post on social media speak a lot about you and put you in a social context. Select photos that represent you best. Remove photos that you wouldn’t like even your parents to see.
4.Cancel Community Memberships
You probably belong to a lot more social communities than you realize. Cancel all inactive accounts if you don’t use them anymore.
6.Check Your Blog Comments
The comments you leave on someone else’s blog or forum never disappear. It they’re harsh and spicy they could come back to bite you. Be prepared to explain it to the interviewer if that conversation is brought up.
7. Think Twice Before you Make a new Post
You don’t want to make the same mistake again, do you? Before you make a comment on a blog or post a photo, think about who will see it. Colleagues from work that you just accepted as a friend? Your boss?
If you’re keen on learning more on the subject of privacy and IT, you might find these programmes interesting:
Postgraduate Training in the Security of Computer Networks and Information Systems offered by University of Essex, UK or Bachelor of Information Technology in Deakin University in Melbourne, Australia.
23
Feb 11
Fashion Week in Buenos Aires
Fashion Week Buenos Aires
This week in Buenos Aires it’s Fashion Week, from the 22nd until the 25th of February. Established local designers show their collections for the upcoming winter season, and the who’s who of the local scene gather to watch and be seen. The great thing about fashion week here is that anyone can buy a ticket for 30 Argentine Pesos and attend a show, you don’t have to know someone who knows someone on the inside. Are you a budding designer looking for some inspiration? A student of fashion design finding your own style? Someone who has a cool blog and wants to document the scene on and around the runway? Even if you are none of the above, fashion week may just give you the push you need to get creative in your own life, and what with all the energy buzzing around the main event, some may just rub off on you.
Are you adept at picking the next big thing? Do you think you can create a buzz around a brand, and create a cool image? A course in Cool Hunting may help you to sharpen your skills, as you analyse fashion trends and look at what is to come and what is happending on the streets where you live.
If you already have experience working with fashion design, illustration or textiles, or have an undergraduate degree, a Master of Art in Fashion could give you the refinement and direction to establish yourself as a designer. University of the Arts in London who run the course, help students with placements in companies such as Stella McCartney, Marc Jacobs and Gucci. Excited at the prospect? Fashion design could be for you!
18
Feb 11
Why do Chinese Pupils Perform so well?
Photo: Alamy
According to a British ethnic breakdown of exam results published this week, children of Chinese origins whether rich or poor, have the best results of all ethnic groups in national curriculum tests at age 11. They outperformed caucasian British children by 6%. Similarly, British Chinese youngsters are the highest performing ethnic group in England for the General Certificate of Secondary Education (an academic qualification awarded in a specified subject). Further evidence of Chinese students’ success was shown through the PISA, a global exam of 15-year-old students, where students from Shanghai got the best scores and were ranked at the top.
Why do Chinese pupils perform so well at school? What can we learn from them? We asked our colleague Ying, the Content Manager for Educaedu China, to give us some insight:
- Fierce competition
With such a huge population, and the fact that there can be 1000 people fighting for 1 job, it’s pretty common that children and students in China study a lot more than others. And the competition is not just between students but also parents. A pupil who performs well gives the parent a sense of superiority among other parents, so they help their children by signing them up for various tutoring classes after school.
- Academic score matters
The Chinese are taught during their entire childhood that ranking matters a lot. And GPA (Grade Point Average) is considered to be the easiest way to evaluate one’s ability. A GPA of 3.9 usually guarantees a much better school/university and a much better life compared to a GPA of 3.89.
Source: guardian.co.uk and independent.co.uk
14
Feb 11
Learning a Second Language Improves Your Mother Tongue
Recent studies undertaken by the UK and the Ministry of Education in Spain show that learning a second language has a direct impact on the improvement and enrichment of the mother tongue. This research, carried out in 120 bilingual schools in Spain, highlighted an improvement in the written use of Spanish by the students, especially in the areas that relate to the understanding of the structure of grammar.
Argentine experts have confirmed the same, using the example of public schools in the city of Buenos Aires that have a multilingual program. Teresa Davis, Executive Director of the University Language Center at the University of Buenos Aires, began the multilingual initiative, and as a result of the project said: “There are proven benefits. Sometimes in the first year, students begin this reflection that allows them, for example, to discover the order of the adjective and the noun. These activities are used to make comparisons and develop the plasticity to move from one language to another. “
It was also found that the benefits of learning a second language have been shown not only through teaching English but also with French, Portuguese and Italian.
11
Feb 11
Valentine’s Day, a History
Photo: whollyroamincatholic.com
As the 14th of February approaches many people find themselves thinking about roses, handmade cards, perfume, boyfriends, romance…and the list goes on. But where did this notion of romance and gift-giving come from? You may have heard of a Saint Valentine that the day was named after, but what is the real deal? Well there isn´t one story or person that this day traces back to, but rather a couple of figures from Roman Catholic history and some romantic legends that have possibly been embellished by big business.
Although there are thought to be three, the two principal Valentines associated with the date of February 14th are Valentine of Rome and Valentine of Terni. Both were Christian martyrs, the fomer a priest, the later a bishop, and were burnt at the stake around 100 and 200 AD. The 14th of February was officially the feast day of Saint Valentine until 1969, when it was removed from the General Roman Calendar, apparently because there was little known about Saint Valentine.
The legend that stems from this, reveals Valentine as a priest under the rule of a Roman Emperor who forbid his soldiers to marry, and Valentine would wed young couples in secret. After being caught and sentenced to death, the story continues that he wrote a note to his love the night before his execution and signed it from your Valentine…
If uncovering the history of events such as this tickles your fancy, how about taking a course in history? Or if your interest is religion and the way it has shaped our world, check out some courses on offer in the UK here.
1
Feb 11
The Beatles, Popular Music and Society – Course of The Week
The Beatles - LP cover, Beatles For Sale
It’s a bit redundant to say The Beatles were a phenomenon… their enormous popularity spread all around the world and in many forms it still continues today. The music game The Beatles: Rock Band, released in 2009, plays out almost like an interactive documentary and convinces us that their music is still authentic, fresh and cool.
Ok, so The Beatles are still hot, but would you be ready to study eight days a week to get to know the Fab Five in depth?
The Liverpool Hope University, a university in the Beatles’ home city of Liverpool, UK, offers a Masters Degree (MA) in The Beatles, Popular Music and Society, the only one of its kind in the the world. It takes 12-15 months (full-time) to complete it. Recently, the first 12 Beatles fans who have graduated with their MA in the program, admit it was challenging and enjoyable.
The Beatles, Popular Music and Society will suit those working in the fields of popular music studies, cultural studies and social anthropology. It examines the significance of The Beatles’ music in the construction of identities, audiences, ethnicities and industries, and localities. You will learn ways to understand popular music as a social practice, focusing on issues such as the role of music in the construction of regional identities, concepts of authenticity, aesthetics, meaning, value and performance.
All you need is love (of The Beatles!)
Source: Telegraph.co.uk and the Liverpool Hope University
26
Jan 11
Samba Dance – Course of the Week
Photo: BBC News
It is carnival time again! Throughout the month of February carnival celebrations will take place in many countries, but it’s the Brazilian Carnival that remains the most famous. Carnival in Brazil includes colorful parades and all-day/night street-parties where the samba rhythm plays a huge role. Samba has been danced in Brazil since 19th century and is an important part of Brazilian culture. The largest carnival event in Rio de Janeiro, probably the biggest show on earth, consists of samba schools parading in the Sambadrome. Don’t confuse samba schools with teaching institutions where you learn how to dance samba! Despite what the name suggests, samba school is a local, social and musical organization with several thousands members. Only the most gifted perform in the big annual parade. The samba schools organise samba nights at their samba halls that are open to everyone.
If you don’t plan to visit Brazil any time soon, than try one of the samba schools in your neighborhood:
In the London School of Samba, UK samba classes focus on the vibrant and colorful spirit of Brazilian carnival and samba. The main focus of dance is samba no pe, the practice of the samba step. You can also attend their funky drumming classes and learn to play different samba styles, or you can take up a costume making course.
If you are looking for a place to learn the authentic samba then SambaLá, in Long Beach, California might be the best place in the United States to learn it. Their Brazilian instructor Valeria has over 10 years of professional experience as a dancer and choreographer.
Would you dare to give it a try?
Source: rio-carnival.net
10
Dec 10
Cupcake Confection and Design – Course of the Week
Who loves cupcakes? Eveyone. And why not, they are delicious, mini, just-for-you, adorable little cakes that come in many flavors and colors. They are a perfect canvas for artistic creation and are relatively inexpensive to confect. Little cupcakes can be so pleasing to the eye that you almost don´t want to eat them…almost.
Over the last several years, cupcake shops have been springing up everywhere. Being a more fashionable food, they have become popular at parties, social events and have even started to replace wedding cakes. In light of this popular pastry, we decided to introduce a Cupcake Design Course of the Week.
Here are a few cupcake courses to try:
Cakes 4 Fun in London, UK offers a new course for chocolate-lovers, appropriately called Chocolate Cupcakes. You will learn how to make decorations from a variety of different chocolate mediums. It’s suitable for all skill levels.
The Original Cupcake Course is a day-long intensive course in Chelmsford, UK by The Gourmet Cupcake Company. This course includes: icing techniques, coloring and flavoring, piping perfect buttercream swirls and an introduction to sugarcraft and flower modeling.
Gourmandise Desserts in Culver City, USA offers Gourmet Cupcakes Baking Course. You will learn three simple and sweet cupcakes recipes, including instruction on fillings and the power-house smooth buttercream cupcake.
Yum!!
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