It seems that every time I write a blog post I am either on a plane, a train, or other means of transport, but somehow this is the best time to write about and reflect upon the recent events. Reflective thinking is important not only for our students, as an invaluable tool for learning, but for everyone really, whether a MALIC student or not.
Cross-cultural exchanges
At the end of a week charged with exchanges and thoughtful discussion, I am coming to terms with the fact that these 20 brilliant individuals I finally got to meet in the flesh after one or two years of online interactions are now going back their own separate ways, richer in experience, friends, and understanding of what the next stage, the dissertation, requires them to do. We have ended the week in a round-table discussion of their initial thoughts on the dissertation – some have a clear idea already, some are still looking for it. Sure, there are leadership, innovation and change issues everywhere, from government agencies to pharmaceutical commercialisation companies, and although their heart tells them what they’d like to do, we also need them to be pragmatic about it.
The group is a great mixture of geographical locations, from Colombia to New Zealand and Japan, and Zambia to … Glasgow, all in all 15 countries. But above all, an amazing variety of backgrounds, with school directors, health and safety professionals, IT security consultants, creative directors, and healthcare professionals to name just a few. at the risk of repeating myself, just an amazing group.
Impressions from the MALIC residency
We have used this time together to collect some of their thoughts on the programme, on their experiences both online and on the residency, and we will be posting some of their thoughts as soon as the videos are ready.
In the meanwhile, catch-up with the atmosphere via Twitter from the students directly – thanks for contributing guys and gals.
#Malic2016 #yorkstjohn pic.twitter.com/BmX3LZCGZQ
— Amr Rekaby (@rekaby) 8 April 2016
#malic2016 pic.twitter.com/ew4lvJjkXc
— Paola Sanchez (@Paito_ps) 5 April 2016
Developing and narrowing dissertation questions #MALIC2016 #yorksj pic.twitter.com/VncS6bwXQh
— Viki Stiebert (@vstiebert) 5 April 2016
#malic2016 see you all here November 2017 pic.twitter.com/XMwRT8lXL0
— Erich Vogt (@signpoolev) 9 April 2016
Stay tuned for the interviews, and as Erich says, see you in the Minster in 2017!