Another day in the books! Today we got an early start to the day with a 7am wake-up call. We then caught the bus to BCU! We were welcomed to BCU by Ana, the coordinator of this program at BCU and the associate Dean Lisa Abbott.

Today was the start of our lectures at Birmingham City University (BCU). Our lectures today were more focused on the education system here in the UK and were given by Grant Huddleston, Flo, Bebita and Marina Rummy. It was interesting to make comparisons between my experiences in the education system in the States and a typical education experience in the UK. One major difference between the United States and United Kingdom’s educational system is that that education of the US is coordinated and run by the state and county governments, whereas the UK educational system is nationally run. Therefore, education in the States can vary slightly depending on the state you reside in. Another difference I noticed was in the advancement from high school (US) and college (UK) to higher education (i.e. University or College). In the States the college application process is both quantitative and qualitative. It is quantitative in the sense that you submit you GPA and SAT or ACT scores, although a lot of colleges are moving away from the SAT/ACT requirement. The US system is qualitative in the sense that colleges are also looking at the extra curriculars you participated in. One the other hand, the UK system takes a more quantitative approach. Universities are mainly looking at students A-level scores. A-levels are a test taken after level 3 (Years 12/13) and the score you get on these exams is a key qualification for entry into university. In a sense, A-levels are similar to SATs in the states. One similar I’ll note between the two systems is that there are so many different paths one can take. Whether that be a vocational school or a more traditional pathway. It’s interesting to see how another country sets up its education system because both systems lead to one overarching goal: setting students up for a successful future.

One thing BCU does, that I think should be done more in colleges in the States, is providing discounted meals for their students. Meals can get really expensive really quickly, especially around the University of Pittsburgh. Having this option availability to students not only makes food more accessible, but it also encourages students to eat healthier rather than going to buy fast food.

There are some immediate differences I have noticed between the United States and the United Kingdom. Firstly, when you go to a restaurant in the UK it is common for the waiter to ask if there are any allergies at the table. Secondly, there are defibrillators on the street. Both of these things are simple to implement and can have drastic impacts on everyday life. However, none of these things are done in the United States. I think this is an indicator of how these two countries approach healthcare and the differences between those two systems. As a future healthcare provider, it will be interesting to learn about the UK’s approach to healthcare and compare it to how the United States approaches healthcare.