The FELDA Global Generation students at Limkokwing University recently took part in our Global Classroom initiative. To get them to know London better, the students were given a tour of East London.

Their first stop in the tour was the O2 arena, home to the Summer Olympics 2012, which is one of London’s most famous landmarks. The O2 Arena was completed in 2007 next to the Thames River in North Greenwich, London. With a capacity of 20,000 people, it is the busiest arena in the world and a popular venue for hosting concerts.

Students visited the O2 arena, exploring the well-kept grounds and learning about the history of the building. They were interested in how London keeps its public spaces so clean, which is down to both public cooperation and civic management. Students also gained an insight into various methods of transportation used in London, as the O2 building is close to the London Underground, the River Bus, and a cable car.

After exploring the grounds of the O2 arena, it was time for students to experience the Emirates Air Line, a cable car built in 2012 within a five-minute walk from the arena. The cable car runs every 15 seconds and reaches a height of 300 feet, providing stunning views of London’s skyline and the Thames. From this height, students were able to clearly view the Olympic Village and Anish Kapoor’s famous Orbit Tower, and kept themselves busy taking spectacular photos during the cable car ride.

Students on board the cable car learned about the modern origins of East London, and a local hobby called mud larking, where people seek centuries-old treasures that appear along the river when the tide is low. This mixture of old and new was also highlighted by displays in the cable car station which showed students how the area was used in the past.

This insight into large venues and transport taught students how cities manage populations and logistics. Students were fascinated to see the ways in which London is building a modern future among the remnants of its historic past.

To know more about Limkokwing University Global Classroom initiative, visit www.limkokwing.net/malaysia/academic/global_classroom.

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