Heritage Summers at Oxford University Kicks Off to an Amazing Start

13 August 2013 : Heritage Summers is underway for the summer of 2013!  “Students have been settling in excitedly into their rooms and have begun to get to know each other,” said Dr. James, Director of Student Welfare at Heritage Summers.  “After a successful orientation, they have begun work in earnest, and are also enjoying the cultural atmosphere of Oxford. “

Heritage Summers, an offering of Dubai-based Alpha1Education, was launched in 2011 at Cambridge University and will be held at both the Universities of Cambridge and Oxford in the future.

The programme is dedicated to the academic, cultural and social enrichment of secondary school students, from around the world.  Typically, they apply for the three-week programme where they choose a core course and a less intense secondary course from a diverse choice of subjects taught in small group tutorials in the style of learning that is the hallmark of the Oxford and Cambridge Universities.

This year Heritage Summers welcomed a cohort of exceptional students representing thirteen countries to its annual Oxbridge educational experience.

The students are responding energetically to their inspiring new temporary home.  ‘Wherever I go, whenever I turn a corner there's a new part of history . . . There are so many connections and so much life that has happened here,' says Saanya Jain, 16, of the American Cooperative School of Tunisia.  ‘I never thought it would be like this!' enthuses Abdullah AlGhamdi, 17, a gifted student sponsored by the Ministry of Education of Saudi Arabia.  ‘It is so . . . historic.  It is a fantastic experience.  And my course!  I never knew Maths could be so fun!"

Heritage Summers provides its students with an orientation to university life and a unique Oxbridge learning experience.  Students engage with each other and their tutors in intensive sessions that emphasise the student's contribution and debate.  ‘I like the small ration between students and professors,' Saanya continues.  ‘I love that we get to talk a lot and have conversations instead of just listening and doing exercises.'  Viyan, 16, from Turkey's most competitive and prestigious Robert College (and selected to attend her school through a national entrance exam sat by almost two million students), is enthusiastic about her true Oxford experience—in her core course she is one-on-one with her tutor. ‘I am the only one in my politics class,' she says, ‘and at first I was really worried but actually it is great.  I love my tutor!'

Students are enrolled in small classes of two or three or four in courses as diverse as the following: as “Maths and Physics”, “Psychology”, “Advanced English”, “Medieval Islamic History”, “Power and Politics”, “Public Speaking and Debate”, “Introduction to Molecular Biology”, “Human Genetics”,  and “Business and Entrepreneurship”! 

‘Heritage Summers offers an unparalleled, intensive, diverse experience that prepares students to excel in a global age,' says Dr. Asma Siddiki, the programme's Director, who received her DPhil from Oxford in 2003.  ‘We aim for excellence and we aim for diversity, and with this group of students we have exceeded our own expectations.'