Ethnic minority students sample university life

Around 40 students, aged 15 and 16, are attending the free, week-long event at Fitzwilliam College, which ends this Friday (July 2). It has been organised by the Group to Encourage Ethnic Minority Applications to Cambridge (GEEMA), within the Cambridge Admissions Office.

With a mixture of academic and social activities, as well as a careers and university information session, the week offers Year 11 students from ethnic minorities the chance to experience a wide variety of degree subjects, from astronomy to zoology.

Among the activities lined up for the week are lectures about medieval gangsters, the size of the universe, Chinese culture and why it's worth learning another language when 'everyone speaks English anyway', as well as a drama workshop, a quiz night and an evening punting down the Cam. The sessions are being run by Cambridge academics, current undergraduates and staff from the Cambridge Admissions Office.

Cambridge Admissions Office Schools & Colleges Liaison Officer Nikhil Gomes, who has co-ordinated the summer school, said:

"We run a huge range of GEEMA events, aimed at encouraging more ethnic minority students to apply to university and to Cambridge, in particular. The summer school is a great chance for Year 11 students from ethnic minority backgrounds to see what Cambridge is really like, from both the academic side and the social side."

Later this summer, GEEMA is holding an information weekend, which includes an outline of the Cambridge admissions process, for Year 12 students from ethnic minority backgrounds who are considering applying to Cambridge.

GEEMA is celebrating its 15th birthday this year. Other GEEMA activities include visiting schools and colleges across the UK, hosting trips to Cambridge from ethnic minority students and organising challenge days where ethnic minority students take part in problem-solving activities and quizzes.