Lizards, speaking in tongues, toilets and terror on the seas

Travel and Tourism students from the University of Northampton got up close with reptiles, found out about terror attacks on cruise ships and how toilets can help to flush away poverty during a week of special events.

Global Transformation Week, which runs until Friday, has been organised by Justin Lance, Subject Group Leader for Leisure Management and Languages.

He said: “I originated and delivered Global Transformation Week to provide our students with an experience which would broaden their social and intellectual horizons, and challenge the unknown.”

Sessions this week include:

• An insight into working on cruise ships, and how to deal with on-board emergencies including terrorist attacks and capsizing, delivered by Lyn Duncan, from Cruise Ships Training
• A zoophobia event which saw students face their fears by handling snakes, lizards and spiders – the event attracted more than 300 people
• A ‘speaking in tongues’ basic business French event
• Creative risk management workshops
• Activities with Film Lab, a moving image organisation based in Northampton.

The principle aims of the project are to deliver a range of alternative, interactive and experiential learning opportunities which challenge and extend student personal and social boundaries; enhance a sense of student belonging; support student transition into Higher Education; contribute to student ‘graduate-ness’ and to contribute to student employability.

The week has also seen students find out about the Toilet Twinning Universities initiative, which aims to get undergraduates raising funds to buy toilets for poverty stricken people in developing countries. The week has already raised £26 in donations for the scheme.

Students’ Union vice presidents David Lewis and Danjie Zhong are pictured with French teacher Catherine Wendeler, promoting the Toilet Twinned Universities scheme.