Students have spent two weeks living and studying within the University’s European Centre’s in both Brussels and Paris as part of 50th Anniversary Scholarships.

Students had the opportunity to participate in academic sessions as well as cultural activities within two iconic European cities. In Paris, students resided in the Montparnasse district, where celebrated artists such as Picasso had his studio. For two weeks they immersed themselves in French culture by exploring the city’s art, architecture, film, drama, writing and philosophy.

Addressing the theme ‘Revolution’, students benefited from a daily format of interconnected lectures and excursions guided by academic specialists. They also visited a wide range of cultural and historically significant sites which included the Grand Palais, Musee Rodin, and the Gardens of Versailles.

The theme in Brussels, ‘Europe and the World’, was tailored to complement the Brussels setting. Students benefited from dynamic academic sessions on international migration, European Neighbourhood Policy, globalisation, and climate change, as well as taking part interactive simulation exercises on the European Union, and lobbying.

With 2014 marking the 100th anniversary of the start of the First World War, students also visited the Ypres, Flanders, where some of the most intense fighting took place. Here, students learned human cost and political impact of the First World War and discovered how it helped to shape Europe today.

Throughout the Summer Schools students were able to study and interact with other Kent students who are outside of their usual programme of study. In doing so, they were exposed to different approaches to the same subject as they debated and discussed with each other.

For many students, the Summer Schools were a unique experience, which allowed them to gain analytic and intercultural skills, with one student describing their programme as a ‘beautiful, original experience, one for the memory books.’ 

The Summer Schools were made possible thanks to the generous contributions of internal departments and the Student Projects Fund.