Co-organised by Girton College of the University of Cambridge and the Faculty of Engineering (FENG) of PolyU, the “University of Cambridge (Girton College) Online Summer Engineering School” was held from 26 – 30 July 2021. Thirty-nine FENG students including nine from COMP joined the programme.
Dr John Longley, Senior Lecturer of the Department of Engineering from the University of Cambridge, delivered a course “Mathematics for Engineering”. Focusing on the theoretical concept, the course covered useful knowledge for engineers, including vectors analysis, matrices algebra, numerical solutions and quadrature, statistics, as well as data analysis. Daily homework assignments were given to participants after each class.
“I chose to join this programme to enhance my mathematic ability and skills,” Liu Yunfei (BSc (Hons) in Computing, Year 2) said. “I learnt essential knowledge about some basic mathematic methods and techniques, which can be easily applied to my major study.”
To enable participants to know more about Girton College and Cambridge student life, a series of special events were arranged such as Orientation, Watch Party of Girton College Experience, Guest Lecture on Graduate Studies at Cambridge. Students were also honoured to meet with the Mistress of Girton College, Prof. Susan Smith on 29 July, discussing education-related topics.
Apart from the class learning, the summer programme also offered attendees opportunities to communicate with students who are currently studying at Girton College. Social activities with Student Ambassadors like “Quiz and Discussion Night” and “Walking Tour of Girton College”, further allowed students to experience the Cambridge study life.
“Every day there was one challenge question at the end of the lecture for us to practice what we have learnt. I found this was so encouraging and interesting by solving the problem,” Geng Longling (BSc (Hons) in Computing, Year 2) shared.
In conclusion, the programme provided students with valuable international learning experience in various aspects. “At Girton College we are very fortunate to have collaborated on short-term programmes with PolyU over a number of years now. The PolyU students on this new Mathematics for Engineering programme were as hard-working as always, and it is wonderful to know that even though the programme was delivered online the students still learnt a lot academically, and even got to experience something of Girton College life through the additional activities that were organised. We look forward to welcoming further PolyU students to Cambridge in future.” Dr Nick Godfrey, Director of Summer Programmes said.
