The MiM2017 and GMiM2018s have officially settled into their first term at LBS and core classes are well underway. With Orientation at East Wintergarden and Foundations Week on campus, the MiM and GMiM students had a great introduction to the School and the various departments through seminars and workshops.

However, on 6 and 7 September, the students left the campus to brave the great outdoors (and Great British weather) in Gilwell Park, just outside of London.

The day consisted of team building activities within their study groups. (Each study group of 5-6 students had been carefully selected by the Programme Office to ensure a diverse set of nationalities, academic backgrounds and experiences and therefore encourage peer-learning).

For the away day, each group was allocated a professional coach from the “Fly on the Wall” training company and the coach led a session entitled “Lifelines”, which inspired the sharing of life experiences and personality traits. With each coach having a unique approach, no two Lifeline sessions were identical. The session was accompanied by a day full of practical activities such as raft-building, indoor and outdoor rock climbing and problem-solving activities.

Each activity went beyond being simply practical. The focus was always brought back to the importance of team building; learning the strengths of your peers, and overcoming failures and successes. Each activity could not be completed through selfish ambition, but through collaborative spirit, hard work and dedication – traits which are vital in the programme and in any company culture.

The groups were encouraged to create a code of conduct, setting moral codes which are to be abided by during the term and each group put their creativity into practice, decorating a pennant to demonstrate their group meaning and diversity. The day certainly tested the ability and confidence of all of our students, but the ambitious, eclectic and communal values of all of our students shone throughout.

“The Away Day was such an unexpectedly exhilarating experience. I was particularly proud of myself for pushing past my fear of heights, which I could not have done without the help of my study group. The challenges we were faced with proved just how vital teamwork really is.  At the end of the day, I went home feeling part of a team and ready to take on the year.”

“Away day was great since it allowed us to get to know the people in our study group outside the classroom. My group really started to build trust by participating in all sorts of engaging challenges and it really helped establish how we want to work together over the next term. The activities were a fun way to ensure that everyone was comfortable working together.” 

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