Students all over the UK will have woken up this morning to the news of the election results, which have revealed that the Conservative party have won a large majority of 78 seats. The results show that Conservatives gained 47 seats in the election this year, giving them 364 seats overall, whereas Labour lost 59 seats, securing 203 seats overall.

Whether you are happy or sad about this result, the outcome will affect everyone living in the UK. So, what do these results mean for students?

Read on as we recap some of the key policies the Conservative party has promised to deliver…

The UK to be Carbon Neutral by 2050

With a greater focus on the environment this year, following mass media focus and protests of Extinction Rebellion, the Conservatives have said that their goal is to be carbon neutral by 2050 and to ask their global partners to match this ambition. 

They will do this though a £4 billion investment in R&D, decarbonization schemes, new flood defenses, clean energy and electric vehicle infrastructure (phasing out the sale of petrol and diesal cars) as well as setting up international partnerships to help tackle deforestation.

On top of this, they say they will set up a £500 million Blue Planet fund to help protect our oceans from plastic pollution, warming sea temperatures and overfishing and extend the Blue Belt program.

Find out which universities are currently the ‘greenest’ in the UK.

Connect the UK’s cities and regions

If, like this student commuter, the thought of the public transport system in the UK makes you want to cry a little bit, you’ll be pleasantly surprised to find out that the elected Government is planning on improving the (heavily flawed) system.  

In their manifesto, the Conservative party promised to upgrade public transport services, including bus, tram and train services, as well as building the Northern Powerhouse Rail, which would make it easier to move between the different towns and cities in the North, as well as investing in the Midlands Rail Hub. There will also be a superbus network with lower fares and increased frequencies, as well as a £28.8 billion investment in local and strategic roads.

Regarding the widely debated HS2 railway network, the Government will ‘work with leaders of the Midlands and the North to decide the optimal outcome’ as they have now revealed  that the railway will not be viable until 2040, and will cost ‘at least £81 billion’.

Introduce a points-based immigration system

The Tories’ immigration policy has always been one of the most controversial policies of the election – but what have they actually said?

The Conservatives have pledged to introduce an Australian style points based immigration system, with Migrants ‘paying in’ before they can receive benefits. The Conservative party say this will reduce immigration overall and result in fewer lower skilled migrants.

They do, however, say that EU citizens who came to live in the UK before Brexit will be allowed to stay and will have all of their existing rights guaranteed after Brexit, under the EU Settlement Scheme. There will be a student visa available for EU and non EU students wishing to study in the UK, and a start up visa for entrepreneurs who wish to start businesses in the UK.

Extra Funding for the NHS

The NHS has been a big talking point this election, with the Labour party claiming that the NHS could be vulnerable to privatisation under the Conservatives.

The Conservative party have strongly denied this, and have said that the NHS is in no way “up for sale” and their manifesto claims that the government will provide extra funding for the NHS, with 50,000 more nurses, 6,000 more doctors in general practice, 6,000 more supportive hospital management, as well as 50 million more GP surgery appointments per year. The party has also promised to fund 40 new hospitals over the next 10 years and will allocate a £35 million cash injection to hospices to support 200,000 patients.

Only time will tell…

Tackle low quality university courses and grade inflation

The UK is home to some of the world’s leading universities, and the Conservatives have pledged to ‘maintain and strengthen our global position in higher education’, as well as tackling the problem of grade inflation and low quality courses, and improve the application and offer system for undergraduate students.

The government will also strive to ‘strengthen academic freedom and free speech’ in universities.

Get Brexit done

The Conservative party’s stance on Brexit is (unlike the process so far) relatively simple. They say they ‘will deliver on the people’s decision in 2019’ to leave the European Union.

In their Manifesto, the Conservatives say ‘we will start putting our deal through Parliament before Christmas and we will leave the European Union in January’, and they promise ‘not to extend the implementation period beyond December 2020’.

Despite this seemingly simple statement, the Conservative party is notoriously known for not following through on Brexit promises. So, will this be final say? We shall have to wait and see. 

Raise the National Living Wage

Any students working a part time job whilst at university will be pleased to discover that the Conservatives party has promised to increase the National Living Wage, which has been increasing annually since 2016. The National Living wage at the time of writing (December 2019) is £6.15 for those aged 18 to 20, £7.70 for those ages 21 to 24 and £8.21 for those 25 and over.

The Conservative party has also promised not to increase the rate of income tax, VAT or National Insurance, and will strive to make flexible working the default, unless employers have a good reason not to.

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How are you feeling about today’s election results? Let us know in the comments below.

Sponsored by University of Lima

In a world where we seem to be bombarded with negative news, sometimes it’s quite nice to hear about the good things.

University is one place where people’s career dreams and life-long ambitions are envisaged. But what does it take to achieve your dreams? We spoke to three University of Lima graduates to find out more.   

Mónica Liyau – creator of Impactando Vidas (Making an Impact on Lives)

What started off as a hobby ended with a world ping pong championship title for Mónica Liyau. However, after a cancer diagnosis in 2015, Mónica made the decision to combine her passion for ping pong with her desire to educate young children on the importance of sport and what it can do for not just their physical health, but their mental health too.

“I was feeling empty inside and wanted to make a change in my life," said the University of Lima business administration graduate.

As a mother of two and business owner of the prestigious candy marketing company, Golozzini, Mónica utilized her business administration expertise and founded Impactando Vidas (Making an Impact on Lives) in 2016. Created on the basis of Olympic values, the program has provided public schools around the country with 400 professional cemented ping pong tables, 7,500 ping pong paddles, and 20,000 ping pong balls.

It also gives talks, runs workshops and trains physical education teachers within the schools to help develop not just the students’ self-esteem and motivation, but improve their academic abilities as well.

“It’s scientifically proven that ping pong is the sport that most develops the human brain,” said Mónica.

“Although we are an athletic program, we not only contribute to physical and psychomotor development, but almost 100 percent of teachers within the schools say our social program helps students concentrate and read better,” she added.

With the support of the Ministry of Education in Peru, the program works to fulfil many Sustainable Development Goals set out by the United Nations General Assembly.

Since the program’s establishment three years ago, thousands of school children, in over 100 public schools across 12 regions in Peru feel that their lives have changed for the better thanks to Impactando Vidas.

Almost 3,000 school children have taken part in regional tournaments of the Impactando Vidas program, 320 of which have gone on to compete in national school sports competitions. A further 25 have gone on to win such competitions, with seven becoming regional champions.

Nicholas Harmsen – general director of Crea+

Image credit: Diffusión

University of Lima graduate Nicholas Harmsen is now the general director of Crea+, a non-governmental organization (NGO) dedicated to educating school children in vulnerable areas in Peru.

After ten years of volunteering, the former industrial engineer student decided he wanted to give back even more and help transform local communities and society through Crea+.

The program recruits fully-committed creandos (professional volunteers) who dedicate their time and energy into going into public schools to teach.

“Each Saturday, we visit schoolchildren to teach them fun mathematics and multidisciplinary workshops, such as cooking, capoeira, dance, English, drama, speech, debate, football, mini-architects, craft, and more,” he said.

“So far, over 500 types of different workshops have been created. Such workshops have been classified according to motor, artistic, cognitive, and social-personal skills, and if a volunteer proposes a new type of workshop, we organize it.”

It’s not just the children who benefit from Crea+ either – the professional volunteers also see their own communication, teamwork and leadership skills develop as they work hard to help the children discover their talents and potential.

“This is very rewarding work that comes with great responsibility. I feel happy being surrounded by a great professional team who I learn from every day,” said Nicholas.

“The impact our work has on people is huge, and we’re convinced we will continue to bring about the changes that we want on a larger scale.

“We hope that more children in Peru believe in themselves so they can achieve their dreams.”

This year, the University of Lima hosted the program’s induction and training development for the next wave of professional volunteers.

Looking back on his time at the University of Lima, Nicholas is proud of his alma mater status and believes in the true value and importance education can have on an individual’s future endeavors.

Carolina Ward – founder of Conciencia

Image credit: Diffusión

Having studied industrial engineering at the University of Lima, Carolina Ward decided to begin her very own business in the hope it would make others happy – a chocolate start-up business named, Conciencia.

In total admiration of Peru’s natural resources, Carolina hopes to educate chocolate lovers around the world about Peru’s rich biodiversity and what it can offer when it comes to raw, organic chocolate products. 

Going from industrial engineering student to chocolate business founder is an interesting route – but Carolina most definitely has her reasons.

“The challenge was to combine the rigid, intellectual, and analytical side of industrial engineering that I had with the human aspect, directed toward healthy living, nutrition, and physical and spiritual well-being,” said Carolina.

Carolina frequently travels to the Amazon rainforest in order to educate and train farmers to grow raw cacao in the best way possible. Her small team includes a clinical nutritionist who helps Carolina and her business partner develop new recipes using additional superfoods and ingredients.

“The idea is to break the cliché that chocolate makes you fat and gives you acne, because it doesn’t. If made properly, it can be very healthy.

“Not only do we produce chocolate, we also promote a conscious lifestyle,” explained Carolina.

Working together with a non-governmental organization that runs after-school programs for school children, Carolina hosts her own educational workshops to do just that. From learning about the importance of sustainability of a business to understanding nutrition and what it takes to make the chocolate, she hopes it’s a positive way of giving back to the community that made her feel welcome.

In July this year, Conciencia won five awards at the International Chocolate Awards in Peru.

And when it comes to her experience at the University of Lima and how it shaped her into the person she is today, Carolina is beyond grateful – from making use of the university’s very own Fab Lab in order to create prototype molds for her business logo, to the help and support of the professors. 

“The program awakened my curiosity and allowed me to understand how things work,” she said.

“Although I’m not an expert on agricultural engineering, I’ve learned a lot about such subject and that’s been thanks to the undergraduate program.”

Since graduating, Carolina has been invited back to the University of Lima to give talks on start-ups and her own experience.

Lead image credit: Diffusión

Sponsored by ISDI

It can be a real challenge trying to find an MBA that aligns with your career goals, matches your personal interests and inspires you to commit to studying for at least one year.

Fortunately, the MBA has evolved over the years to adapt to the changing business landscape, as well as to meet the demand of employers seeking talented business professionals who have what is needed to work in increasingly competitive sectors.

Going beyond considering the cost, program type and duration of an MBA, it’s the MBA curriculum you should pay the closest attention to – especially when it comes to future career prospects in the digital industry.

Experential learning experiences

Whether it’s through an internship, placement or project-based learning, work experience is an essential part of the MBA. Without it, the knowledge gained during your studies is almost redundant if you don’t put theory into practice. 

Last year, Master in Internet Business (MIB) students at ISDI took part in the MIB Challenge which offered students the opportunity to put their business knowledge and skills into real life practice.

ISDI believe that a practical methodology is the ideal solution for aspiring business professionals who want to be ahead of the game in digital business.

Students were given real money to create and operate their own e-commerce businesses using the drop shipping method; that is they sold products of their choice, ran advertising and social media campaigns and utilized tools and technology such as Shopify, Hubspot and Google Ads. Any profits made were then donated to a non-governmental organization of their choice.

After the success of the MIB Challenge, students in this year’s Digital MBA (DMBA) program also have the opportunity to take part in this type of challenge so they too can gain a genuine understanding of how a business is operated and managed. 

Industry visits with digital leaders

Theoretical knowledge can only go so far. Experiential learning experiences give clarity and help students understand how business and management concepts are put into action, and industry visits definitely accomplish this.

DMBA students at ISDI have the unique opportunity to gain genuine insights into how the industry works from digital experts at global companies, such as Google, LinkedIn and Amazon.

As you become more aware of the industry’s regulations and practices through these types of visits, the more prepared you will be to enter the job market after graduating.

Professional networking opportunities

You generally don’t need to get more than a paragraph into an article about an MBA before finding the words “network” or “networking” – and it’s all for a very good reason.

Your MBA experience goes beyond the one to two years of coursework. An MBA is where you’ll join a worldwide network of industry professionals and professors. All professors at ISDI are digital experts who currently work at companies such as Amazon, Google and Salesforce, demonstrating the DMBA’s potential as a powerful job search tool which can help you keep up-to-date with the latest trends in the industry. 

The DMBA at ISDI has a successful employment rate of over 90 percent, evidence that a high demand for digital professionals exists.

Sponsored by the University of Eastern Finland

There’s a reason why over 30,000 students move to Finland to study every year and it’s not just to see the Northern Lights.

As Finland continues to dominate rankings of the world’s best countries for education, healthcare, and quality of living, it’s apparent other nations around the world can learn a lot from the country that has a lot to offer.

We spoke to a few international students from University of Eastern Finland (UEF) to find out what they’ve made of their study experience in the Nordic nation so far and what attracted them to study here in the first place.

Student-centered learning at the heart of Finland’s higher education system

When it comes to higher education, Finland is an outside-the-box kind of thinker and is renowned for its innovative and forward-thinking ways. Its flat hierarchy encourages a more equal student to professor relationship, while independent learning is very much encouraged.

Freedom and equality also play an integral role in Finnish higher education – something that’s particularly prominent at the University of Eastern Finland.

“Studying at UEF feels like nothing I’ve ever experienced before in terms of learning environment and teaching methods,” said Romanian student, George Cosmin Porușniuc who is currently studying the International Master’s Program in Information Technology (IMPIT).

“The curriculum is very flexible, and you basically get to decide what courses you take in order to fulfill your credit requirements.”

Vietnamese student Le Than Phuong is also studying for her master’s degree in Environmental Health and Technology at the University of Eastern Finland. She told us how she enjoys the freedom and informality of the Finnish education system offers.

“We can organize our studies to fit our own schedules and desires. But freedom comes with responsibility, and students need to study by themselves,” said Le Than, who also appreciates the various ways in which classes are taught.

“I love the multi-methods of teaching which use different tools, such as lectures, videos, and online teaching which helps students learn a lot better. 

“Group work is another thing I like about studying in Finland. There is a lot of group work which prepares us for working life,” she added.

It’s all about trial and error

For many international students whose first experience abroad is to live and study, it can be difficult to adapt and become familiar with new customs and cultures – whether you’re in the classroom or out and about in the local town.

During class, students are encouraged to be active and not be afraid to speak up. Considering how students and professors are on first-name terms with one another, it can make the whole learning experience feel much more personal and relaxed.

“Mistakes are normal and acceptable because each failure is a chance for you to learn something and gain new experiences,” said Vietnamese student, Le Phuoc Thao Nguyen who’s currently studying the Master’s Degree Program for Research Chemists.

Taking the time to enjoy and appreciate what’s beyond campus boundaries

In between lectures and studying, the opportunity to explore what’s practically on your front doorstep is undeniably tempting.

Although George hasn’t seen much of what Finland’s wintry wonderland scenes have to offer, he’s still in awe of what he has managed to glimpse so far.

“It’s just amazed me how beautiful some of the landscapes are that I’ve seen on bus journeys!

“I can only imagine how amazing it’s going to be when I go to visit the Koli National Park, or Rovaniemi (the home of Santa Clause) . Visiting Rovaniemi is a must and I’m planning on doing so as soon as possible,” said George.

“I remember the first snowfall I experienced here, I was ecstatic,” said Ria Talukder, who’s currently studying the Master of Science in Photonics.

“As far as outdoor games are concerned, I tried skiing and sledding, and it was so much fun. Now I’m planning to try skating as well.”

Adapting to the challenges that come with the 21^st century

Those who have the opportunity to live, work and study in Finland are exposed to an entire new way of living, and it’s noticeable how proud the international students we spoke to were of the healthy work-life balance embedded in everyday Finnish life.

Studying in Finland also means you’re entitled to Finnish Student Health Services (FSHS) – although you will need to have paid your Student Union membership to access them. Some healthcare services however, such as dental treatment will have additional fees, although they do tend to be very reasonable. 

There are also many other student discounts available for students, regardless of whether you’re an international or home student, a master’s student or bachelor’s student.

What’s more, in 2020 the University of Eastern Finland will be celebrating its 10-year anniversary. To help celebrate, all international master’s students who commence their studies in September 2020 will be eligible for a partial tuition fee waiver.

Sponsored by IE University

Our world could do with a little more love and care right now. From war to poverty, deforestation to epidemics, we are living in demanding times and facing detrimental challenges.

The world is in need of individuals who have great ambition and want to make a positive impact. Studying international relations is a great way to gain a deeper understanding of global issues. It’s an intriguing and important subject which places great emphasis on economics, culture, education, and political science and examines the impact they have on society. You’ll also learn how and why nations, governments and individuals respond accordingly to such issues.

So, why else should you consider studying a master’s in international relations? We’ve teamed up with IE University to find out. 

You enjoy debating and engaging in challenging issues

Having the conscious ability to hold a strong and balanced argument, especially in the working world of international relations is critical.

Deliberately misleading information and fake news is breaking up communities and strengthening potentially dangerous agendas. This is why we need people who can speak out against it and speak up for the ones who can’t.

You want to make a difference in the world

It’s important to remember that international relations is not just about politics either. International relations is about having a cross-cultural understanding and awareness of what’s happening beyond borders.

At IE University, the Master in International Relations program highlights the role that globalization is playing and the importance of getting ahead of the evolving complexities that come with it.

The program was designed and created in partnership with the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), meaning students are exposed to the inner workings of the organization and how they come up with a range of social, environment and economic solutions.

Those who study international relations tend to be individuals who are passionate about wanting to combat injustices, as well as learn from history regarding what works, and what doesn’t work when it comes to living in a single global society.

It’s a great starting point for your career

Depending on your experiences, interests and aspirations, career opportunities related to international relations in the private, public and not-for-profit sectors are in abundance.

If you’re specifically looking for a career in government, you may want to reach out and consider a role in security or intelligence. Working in government doesn’t always have to be bureaucratic – it can be a great way to get involved with international relations projects.

While working for a non-governmental organization tends to offer more flexibility and hands-on work, salaries can be lower.

Whatever role you pursue, you’ll have the skills and knowledge ready to implement positive change.

The unique skillset you develop will be in high demand

A master’s in international relations will help develop your understanding of how society and people work – something highly valued by employers and organizations.

Working within an international relations setting means your interpersonal, analytical, decision-making and negotiation skills must be unparalleled. A master’s in international relations will help develop this transferable skillset as well as your understanding of how society and people work – something that is highly valued by employers and organizations.

You want to gain real-world experience

International experience is key so you’re able to see and understand where and how policies, strategies, conflicts and laws have an impact around the world. Many higher education institutions are now integrating compulsory study and work experiences into their curricula to ensure students have a practical application of what is learnt in class.

At IE University, Master in International Relations students spend one week in Brussels and visit the European Union as well as other international organizations.

Students also have the opportunity to take part in the exchange program where they will spend a semester studying at one of the university’s renowned partner institutions – Sciences Po in France, University of St. Gallen in Switzerland, or University of Pittsburgh in the United States.

Sponsored by Universidad Tecmilenio

In recent years the importance of wellbeing and productivity across all areas of life has received increased focus, not just in the classroom, but in the home and workplace too.

One university in Mexico has sought to address this trend by becoming the first in the world to develop a scientific master’s program focused on these areas.

Based on scientific research, the Master in Positive Leadership at Universidad Tecmilenio teaches students to build character-strength-based teams in order to have a positive impact on both society and productivity.

What are character strengths and what are mine?

At the beginning of the 21st century, scientists discovered 24 character strengths that give us all our very own unique character profile. These character strengths fall under six categories:

• Wisdom (using your experience and knowledge in order to make good decisions and judgements – examples include creativity, perspective, and curiosity)
• Courage (being able to control your fear in a difficult or dangerous situation – examples include bravery, perseverance and honesty)
• Humanity (simply being human – examples include social intelligence, love, and kindness)
• Justice (being fair in the way you deal with people – examples include fairness, leadership, and teamwork)
• Temperance (being in total control of your own behavior – examples include self-regulation, and forgiveness)
• Transcendence (experience that goes beyond normal limits, or the ability to achieve this – examples include hope, gratitude, spirituality, and appreciation of beauty and excellence)

It is believed that focusing on your strengths and developing these as opposed to tackling your weaknesses is better for your happiness, productivity and engagement levels.

In a recent interview, the Director of Universidad Tecmilenio’s Institute of Happiness and Wellbeing Rosalinda Ballesteros spoke about turning negatives within your team into a positive, and how doing so can help achieve better results, as opposed to “constantly correcting mistakes and trying to correct what is lacking.”

This area of psychology, known as ‘positive psychology’, is at the heart of the Master in Positive Leadership at Universidad Tecmilenio. Students study a variety of modules and develop their knowledge of social wellbeing, positivity leadership, the benefits of positive relationships, as well as their understanding of happiness and wellbeing tools. 

The Institute of Happiness and Wellbeing at Universidad Tecmilenio aims to ensure positivity and wellbeing is an integral element throughout the university, such as the training and coaching sessions based on positive psychology.

A recipe for success

The power that comes with understanding the 24 character strengths and the part they play in every individual’s life is important for workplace productivity. Organizations, managers and leaders are beginning to implement strength-based approaches within the working environment in order to help employees feel happier and more engaged in their roles.

As human-beings, we’re hard-wired to overlook our positives and focus solely on our negatives and how we can better those. This is where strength-based approaches come into play and help individuals, teams and organizations achieve higher levels of happiness and content, and they ensure the overall company culture can thrive.

Playing to your strengths: How it works

There are a variety of strengths we can focus on to ensure positive wellbeing in the workplace, from personal strengths to team strengths, organizational strengths to leadership strengths.

Should you aspire to become a manager or leader, focusing and maximizing on the latter – leadership skills is one way to do this. When it comes to leading a team, there are times when things will go wrong and you need to think carefully about how you address such issues with your employees.

Instead of automatically focusing on the negative, you should instead draw clear lines where things can be improved. Giving feedback should be constructive and lead with an explanation of how things could be done better in future, instead of pointing to where something went wrong.

Definitive goal setting is another way to help boost employee happiness and productivity. While goals should still be challenging, they should be attainable and achievable.

It’s apparent these character strengths have a real impact, and so it’s important research continues into finding out more about them, how they can be used to their full potential, the influence they have, and how they ultimately contribute to a positive and happy workplace.

Europe in the winter is a series of sparkling lights, delicious food and of course, Christmas markets.  Whether you love ice skating, shopping, gorgeous architecture or just relaxing with a glass of mulled cider, Europe’s Christmas markets have something for everyone.

We have devised a list of some of Europe’s greatest Christmas markets this year, including markets in Munich, Warsaw, London, Budapest, Copenhagen, Paris, Madrid, Zurich, Amsterdam and Vienna– all of which are featured in the Best Student Cities 2019 ranking.

Germany: Munich

Germany is arguably the most well-known location for Christmas markets, with many of the country’s cities transforming into winter wonderlands – and Munich is no exception. Germany’s third largest city is host to some of the best Christmas markets in the world. You can visit Munich’s Christmas Market in Marienplatz, set against the background of the neo gothic town hall, which plays live advent music every evening at 5.30pm from the balcony, and a Christmas tree with approximately 2,500 lights. 

Visitors can also enjoy Germany’s largest manger market at Neuhayser Strasse, which features ‘Fatschnkindl’, a pastry shaped like baby Jesus in the manger. Alternatively, Wintertollwood is a Christmas market with a range of lively concerts, illuminated tents and plenty of food.

Poland: Warsaw

flickr: polandmfa

If you’re looking for a reasonably priced city with some stunning Christmas markets, you should take a visit to Warsaw in Poland. Warsaw’s Christmas markets tend to be very quaint and traditional, with the largest market being in Warsaw’s Old Town, just in front of the Royal Castle (as shown above). In the Christmas markets you will find Warsaw’s sweet fruit-based vodka, wooden decorations and a plethora of tasty food.

The Warsaw Christmas Light Festival is also popular amongst Warsaw’s winter tourists – a series of winter lights which stretch 20km along the Royal Route to Wilanów, starting at the Old Town’s main square. Those who like to ice skate will enjoy the city’s free ice-skating rink outside the Palace of Culture and Science.

UK: London

London’s Hyde Park Winter Wonderland is a must for London tourists and locals alike. Thousands of Christmas fanatics flock to Winter Wonderland each year, with the UK’s largest open-air ice rink, a Circus MegaDome and over 100 spectacular rides and attractions.

New attractions this year include Paddington™ on Ice, the world’s tallest transportable Observation Wheel and ‘A Christmas Carol’ at the Magical Ice Kingdom, so head on over and enjoy a glass of mulled wine with your friends.

Hungary: Budapest

If you’re heading to Budapest this Christmas, the Christmas market on Vörösmarty square is the one to visit. Budapest’s largest Christmas market not only has countless food stalls and craft vendors, but also free concerts by various Hungarian bands. If you’re looking for something different this year, visit Budapest’s Lukacs Bath – a thermal Bath which also throws extravagant Saturday winter bath parties. 

Another Christmas favorite in Budapest is St. Stephen’s Basilica Market, with a custom designed light screening show displayed on St Stephen’s Basilica, which can be viewed from all corners of St Stephen’s Square. You will have the option to watch either the traditional show, or a 3D version (3D glasses can be purchased from vendors in the square).   

Denmark: Copenhagen

The capital and largest city in Denmark doesn’t disappoint when it comes to Christmas markets. The Tivoli Christmas Market is amongst the best in Europe.  A traditional Christmas market, it has an abundance of restaurants, thrilling rides and handicrafts within the miniature villages of the market. The scenic lake is also transformed into an ice-skating rink.

Alternatively, Nyhavn Christmas Market is another favorite in Denmark. This market is set in the old harbor of Copenhagen and you can listen to traditional Danish Christmas music whilst browsing the stalls, which are lined up along the city’s pier.

France: Paris

Paris’ ‘Marchés de Noël’ span widely across the city and visiting the city around the Christmas period means that you get to experience some of the best Christmas markets in Europe.

If you’re planning a trip to Paris this Christmas, be sure to stop by the Jardin les Tuileries, take a walk to the Village de Champs-Élysées, explore the Notre-Dame Christmas Market, the Christmas Market at Les Halles or the Place des Abbesses Christmas market. Paris even has a Christmas market at the train station; the Marche de Noel alsacien a la Gare de l’Est. From wooden chalets to carousels to mulled wine, all set against the background of Paris’s most famous landmarks, you’re sure to have a brilliant time in Paris this winter. 

Spain: Madrid

Spain’s capital city is home to many different Christmas markets. The Mercado de Navidad de Plaza Mayor is one of Spain’s oldest and widely known Christmas markets, situated in the beautiful main square. The market features a variety of market stalls offering traditional Christmas products, including incredible hanging light decorations.

El Rastro de Madrid is Madrid’s most famous open-air market, featuring over 1,000 stalls (more than enough to do all your Christmas shopping!) Alternatively, the Mercardo de San Miguel is set on the Plaza San Miguel inside a historic listed building. This market sells traditional market food products as well as Christmas related food and decorations.

Switzerland: Zurich

Over to Switzerland now, whose towering snowy mountains and frosty lakes are straight out of the background of a Christmas card. The Wienachtsdorf Christmas village on Sechselautenplatz (near Bellevue) is situated directly in front of the Opera House has an ice rink, local designers offering original jewelry pieces, candle making and of course, mulled wine.

Christkindlimarkt is another stunning Christmas market, situated at Zurich Central Station, which runs until Christmas eve (giving you plenty of time to visit.) It features an incredible 49 ft Christmas tree (definitely worth a look.)

Netherlands: Amsterdam

Amsterdam’s Winter Paradise allows you to try tubing across real snow, cross-country ski between Christmas trees or engage in a classic snowball fight. There are outdoor and indoor ice-skating rinks and a giant Ferris wheel, which gives you an incredible view of Amsterdam.

If that’s not for you, check out the ‘Funky Xmas Market’; a market packed with handmade art and accessories and the work of local artists, fashion designers and creatives. Alternatively, the Ice Village Amsterdam lets you try out human bowling – where you become the ball and try to knock over the skittles, on ice (terrifying, we know).

Austria: Vienna

Vienna at Christmastime feels like being in a fairytale – in fact one of the Christmas markets is even named the Viennese Dream Christmas Market. Located in the square in front of City Hall, visitors can listen to international choirs singing carols, or learn how to make candles and Christmas cookies, or enjoy the many market stalls.

Christmas Village Belvedere Palace is located in front of one of Vienna’s most beautiful landmarks. Here, more than 40 stores over a multitude of food, drinks and gifts for all to enjoy. Another notable Christmas market is the Christmas Village Altes AKH, which is perfect for visitors who are looking for something slightly different as the market is situated on the former site of Vienna's Former General Hospital. Despite this, the Christmas market still has the charm of the other markets with plenty of warm food and drink.

In the darkest December days of the year, nothing brings more cheer than a Christmas illumination. From the humblest Christmas tree fairy light or household display to a full-scale illuminated high street; lights and Christmas go hand in hand.

All over the UK, towns and cities have their own ‘switch on’ ceremonies and many British institutions have begun to host their own special Christmas illuminations. With so much choice, it’s hard to know which festive light show you and your loved ones should attend. So, we’ve comprised this list of some of the top Christmas lights in the UK, so you too can enjoy the best of this sparkling tradition.

Kew Gardens, London

Arguably a place of beauty any time of the year, Kew Gardens during Christmas is truly a sight to behold. The tradition of the Kew Gardens Christmas illuminations is now heading into its seventh year and only continues to surprise and delight Yuletide visitors. A mile-long trail through the gardens shows many of the ancient trees, canopies and bushes lit with ribbons of light, enchanting those who pass through. Nearly 2,000 swaying flowers also create a floral radiance that can be seen nowhere else this time of the year. The pièce de résistance of the entire show is the Palm House Pond light show, where beams of light dance across the water to a chorus of Christmas songs.        

‘Tunnel of Light’, Norwich

For Christmas revelers in the East Anglia region, Norwich’s ‘Tunnel of Light’ is not to be missed. This alternative Christmas light display will have your jaw dropping, and your eyes twinkling. 50,000 pulsating LED lights illuminate this 45-meter long tunnel, surrounding viewers in a sea of light. The tunnel is designed to replicate the sight and color of the Northern Lights and will delight both young and old with its awe-inspiring display. The city also projects Christmas films onto Norwich Castle, completing the magical festive feel.

‘Festival of Light’, Longleat Safari Park, Wiltshire

One of the Southwest’s top Christmas illuminations must be the Festival of Light at Longleat Safari Park. Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2019, the park is pulling out all the stops in honor of this occasion. The park seamlessly combines the traditional Christmas illuminations with its own wildlife twist. These include the giant animal-shaped lanterns that take the form of monkeys and lions. The park also displays a 20-foot high cake and an illuminated Christmas scene which includes 30,000 bulbs and two and a half miles of LED lighting. This is must-see for lovers of both the zoo and festive illuminations.

‘Christmas Glow’, RHS Wisley, Surrey

The Royal Horticultural Society in Surrey might not be the first place you think of when looking for a Christmas illumination this December, but think again! Walk through some of the RHC’s most iconic liquidambar, giant redwood, and pine trees, all illuminated in the most eye-widening lights and colors. The famous glasshouse is dressed in lights that portray it as a gingerbread house, complete with festive plants such as poinsettias, Christmas cacti and bromeliads. The lantern adorned lake leads to Santa and Mrs. Claus’s grotto, completing the Christmas wonderland feel. This is the ideal Christmas illumination to visit for those who wish to combine the festive with the quintessential English garden.

Carnaby Street, London

One of the capital’s most famous thoroughfares, Carnaby Street, has continued to outshine all others when it comes to London’s Christmas illuminations. Each year the street’s show runs with a certain theme, and each one has delighted both London locals and tourists alike. This year Carnaby Street has hooked up with the charity Project Zero to create an illumination that promotes the preservation of the world’s oceans. All materials used to create this underwater delight have been upcycled from reusable material. Those with an eco-conscious mindset can be safe in the knowledge that this is one light display that has the planet at its heart.         

If you’re looking for a job that can help pay your expenses without compromising your studies, it might be a good idea to look for a part-time job. Earning some money while studying can be very useful but it can also be difficult to find the perfect job to fit in with your schedule. You can find different job boards, like StudentJob, that are a great place to look for a student job, but what category should you be looking at? To help you in your research, we’ve made a list of the three best jobs for students.

Tutoring

Are you an expert in a specific subject like math or English? Some websites like Voscours (in France), Tutorfair (in the UK) and Tutor.com (in the US) are always looking for students to give private lessons. The idea is simple: you need to register on the website with your information, including what subjects you would like to teach and your availability to give lessons. Then, students who are interested will contact you directly.

You can choose either to give your private lesson in a public place (like in a café), in the student’s house or even online. The most exciting thing about tutoring is that you can set your own price, often earning between €18 and €40 per hour. If you gave four hour-long private lessons per week, you could receive a salary of €288 at the end of the month- not too shabby for a student job.

Street marketing

If you are sociable and love working outside, this could be the role for you. This kind of job is quite easy to find because many businesses, like Globe, are looking for students throughout the year. Your mission is to promote new products from big brands by giving flyers and samples. The job’s location can change but it is usually somewhere public where a lot of people pass by, like a metro station or at an event like a football game. This kind of job is perfect for students because you don’t need any experience and shifts are usually on weekends.

Babysitting

Babysitting is a great student job if you love spending time with children. You will be looking after children when their parents are not at home, usually after school, during the weekend or during the holidays. This means your shift can fit in with your student schedule. Many babysitting agencies, like BabyChou, Yoopala or SpeakingAgency are looking for students during the year to look after children. Some agencies offer great benefits like covering transport costs, health insurance or even discounts for some activities like bowling or swimming. If you’d like to be a babysitter, check out babysitting jobs on StudentJob.

Having a flexible and well-compensated job while studying is a great opportunity to gain work experience without compromising your studies. If you need some help with your applications, don’t hesitate to read our advice to apply!

Re:Imagine Education is an annual global conference and competition that brings together the organizations transforming education today.

From academic faculty at world-renowned universities and EdTech startups, to Chief Innovation Officers and tech developers, the conference attendees and speakers are the people best placed to provide insight into the future of education.

This year, Imperial College Business School is co-hosting the event, and so we thought it apt to find out a little more about the ways they are using technology to transform the student experience.

Imperial offers a number of graduate programs from master’s degrees and PhDs to MBA programs. But the main thing the business school prides itself on is its innovative ethos and its STEM-driven technologies.

The Dean of Imperial College Business School Francisco Veloso told us: “We started investing in technology for education a few years ago. That has been present on the courses delivered to our community. The flexibility is quite important.

“For example, when we delivered accounting digitally to the students across Imperial, subscriptions went up 30 percent.

“It’s because all of a sudden if you’re a civil engineering student, [studying accounting] is no longer competing with your structures because you can take it online.” 

Collaboration is key to success

To give one more example of how Imperial College Business School have embraced technology, the school recently joined a group of leading business schools to launch a new digital learning platform to create a more flexible learning experience. 

By combining faculty expertise with cutting-edge technology, the platform hopes to meet growing demands from executives and students for a more flexible, bespoke and globally accessible learning experience.

Known as the Future of Management Education Alliance, the platform aims to transform the future of management education. As the first platform of its kind in the business education sector, Imperial and its partners are hoping for great things.

This new alliance will enable partner schools (Imperial, ESMT Berlin, BI Norwegian Business School, the Lee Kong Chian School of Business, EDHEC

Business School and Ivey Business School), to enhance the student experience through face-to-face, experiential and online learning methods.

Find out more about this and other innovations in education by following our coverage of this year’s Re:Imagine Education conference both here on TopUniversities.com and on social media.