Students from Years 12 and 13 discovered the breadth and scope of Asian Studies at the School of Oriental and African Studies and Royal Society for Asian Affairs annual Schools’ Day.
The aim of the event is to introduce students to concepts and subjects they may not have previously explored as part of their curriculum and to inspire them to take a closer interest in Asia and the professional pathways opportunities that arise from Asian Studies.
The students spent the day hearing from academics and practitioners on a range of topics covering this rich and varied subject, including current affairs, language, environmental issues, and popular culture. The programme was wide-ranging, covering topics from Water Conflicts, Gender Discrimination and Regional Security to What K-Pop Tells Us, plus a talk on The Philippines Today from the Ambassador for the Philippines. The group also had an introductory Mandarin Chinese class led by lecturers from SOAS.
Cecile Davis, Joint Head of French, Head of EDI and trip organiser, said:
“The Asian Studies day was an inspirational day that I would recommend to all Sixth Formers, particularly those who may not yet be sure what careers or studies they would like to engage in after Colfe’s. The group greatly enjoyed hearing from various academics and the Ambassador of the Philippines. Our special highlights were the session on K-Pop, learning Mandarin Chinese and meeting the Ambassador – as Lana (Y13) said ‘it’s not something you do everyday!’”.
