A GROUP of King’s Ely Senior students and staff have recently been involved in an Erasmus project in Denizli, Turkey.
The theme of the programme, entitled ‘Rise The Life’, was solar and biomass energies.
The below is what Ned Kittoe, Head of Science and Physics at King’s Ely Senior, had to say about the project…
“I am sitting on a flight home from Istanbul reflecting on the events of the past week. Helen Ost, Kit Attwater, Jonny Iles, Will Biggs, Thomas Apostalou, Joseph Coppin, Barclay Greenway, Ben Collier and I have all been visiting a specialist Science School, Erbakir Fen Lisesi, in Denizli, Turkey; investigating and producing projects on renewable energy solutions in the Denizli area.
“We learnt an enormous amount. We visited biogas, geothermal and solar energy production plants and industries, witnessing how the same green agenda is being tackled in a very different place to Ely. We were greeted and informed by professionals working in contexts and a language entirely different from our own. Students produced and teachers assessed high quality projects and proposals on their findings and suggestions for the future. We took part in school lessons and had a day out visiting the ancient sites of Pammukale and Latakia. Dr Ost and I met the Minister of Education for Denizli and surrounding area, and discussed the nature of education in our countries. The formal parts of the trip produced a wonderful blend of international Science, Geography and Culture; and we felt honoured and enriched in being part of this project.
“However arguably even more learning took place outside the formal agenda. King’s Ely students stayed in school boarding houses with their Erbakir counterparts and stories are emerging of wild card games and enthusiastic conversations deep into the night. Wi-Fi was abandoned, dormitories were raided, and all students took an absolute delight in each other’s company. We were sincerely moved by the warmth and friendliness of everyone we met. Over the course of the week, our eyes were continually being opened to vaguely familiar educational and social scenarios playing out against hugely unfamiliar backdrops. I am sure we all carry strong thoughts and feelings about the week, and many tales will be told over the coming months and years. Friends have been made for life.
“On trips like these, teachers often fall into debating the purposes and methods of education; it is useful and stimulating to hear other viewpoints, even if they oppose one’s own. Scholarly debates were had in Turkey, but everyone agreed that a central purpose of education is ultimately the development of life lasting multi point global perspectives. Given that, this Erasmus project has certainly educated us all.”