The second batch of Limkokwing University of Creative Technology's 'Global Generation' programme comprising 130 FELDA students arrived at the world's financial capital, London in early May.

The second batch of Limkokwing University of Creative Technology’s ‘Global Generation’ programme comprising 130 FELDA students arrived at the world’s financial capital, London in early May.

The Global Generation programme, among other things, exposes students to how a modern metropolis like London operates and how throughout the ages it has managed its growth to become one of the world’s greatest cities, all the while maintaining its unique historic features and characteristics. It is this contrast of the old and the new that makes London a unique cultural experience and learning ground.

The first of the many cities is the Roman then Norman and ultimately, Tudor; the site which marks the precise spot at which the City of London was sited. It was named “Londinium” by the legion of the Roman army which first entered England from France by crossing the channel. It is here that they built their first camp here by the river side. As many attacks northward and eastward were launched from here, it was fortified for defending English indigenous occupants and this fort gave rise to the first royal palace. It became the Royal Residence or Palace known thence as the “Tower of London”.

Event Management students got an insight into the dynamics involved in organizing events at historical sites. They learned that this idea has openly been explored, as seen in the display of the Olympic rings on Tower Bridge itself during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.

From the nearby Tower Bridge which has become an icon of London the students visited the recently-constructed “City Hall” which is the professional home of the Mayor of London and his team of the City of London Authority committee. From this building the entire logistics of the city are determined and controlled and all new measures are delivered. The Mayor is most proud of his claim to offer transparency to London’s citizens, in the procedures and means of resolution of its problems and its future provisions for the people.

Khairunnisa Binti Kasiron (BA Event Management) commented, “Imagine how amazing it would if we can have events being held at historical sites in Malaysia the same way they did here in London, wouldn’t that be amazing?”

Seeing how modern London has cautiously evolved from the old city to what it is today maps out creative ideas to students on how unique architecture and historical development can be incorporated into urban planning projects - a challenge that is made more difficult by rising city populations.

London is a key destination for inbound visitors to the UK and in 2012 over 15 million visitors toured the capital. From a tourism perspective, how old buildings are preserved and maintained over the years is key to sustaining and increasing this number. Tourism Management students learned how to transform old relics into points of attraction of the modern tourist. Nur Hidayah Binti Jumahat (Diploma in Tourism Management) after the trip said, ”There’s all these old buildings that I come across back home and they are just as beautiful, I want to make them into a tourist attractions like how it is here in London!”

Even students from Game and Art development benefited from the exposure getting a better understanding on how old architecture is represented in various game environments, as Wayne Caeser a/k Entusa (B.A Game Development) put it, “I never realized how intricate the details of these building can be, now that I’ve seen it first hand, my attention to the details has dramatically improved and I’m sure this will impress my future employer.”

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