What does it feel like to learn in Cambridge, walk through one of the world’s best-known university cities, meet students from different countries and begin imagining where your own education could take you? From 25 July to 3 August 2026, students from Tenby Schools Setia Eco Gardens had the opportunity to find out for themselves during our Cambridge Summer Camp Educational Trip to the United Kingdom. For our students in Johor Bahru, an international education is not only about what happens within the school day. As part of International Schools Partnership (ISP), a global group of schools, our students have access to international experiences that allow them to see more of the world, encounter different cultures and think more broadly about their future. Importantly, these opportunities extend across our school community. Students from both Tenby International School and Sekolah Sri Tenby, our National School, can benefit from the international outlook and global opportunities that come with being part of the wider ISP community. Experiencing Cambridge and Thinking About the Future There is something very different about learning about a university or country from a classroom and actually being there. In Cambridge, students were surrounded by centuries of academic history and experienced first-hand the atmosphere of one of the world’s most recognised university cities. Their walking tour introduced them to Cambridge’s history, architecture and landmarks, including King’s College, while a photography challenge encouraged them to explore and observe the city for themselves. For students who will one day make decisions about IGCSE, SPM, university and future career pathways, experiences like these can make the possibilities ahead feel much more tangible. A university overseas is no longer simply somewhere they have seen online or heard adults talk about. They have walked through a university city, experienced an international learning environment and begun to picture what studying abroad could one day look like. Learning Alongside Students from Around the World The trip was also very much a summer camp experience. Students participated in English and Young Professional courses, combining lessons with practical activities, group challenges and sports. From classroom discussions to a lively game of Capture the Flag, they were constantly communicating, collaborating and adapting to new people and situations. One of the greatest benefits was the opportunity to learn alongside students from different countries and backgrounds. Spending time in the UK also placed our students in a highly multicultural environment, giving them opportunities to hear different perspectives, communicate across cultures and become more comfortable navigating unfamiliar surroundings. These are experiences that build confidence in ways that are difficult to recreate entirely within a classroom. At the end of the programme, students received certificates recognising their participation, learning and achievements throughout their courses — a proud milestone after days of challenging themselves in a completely new environment. Discovering British Culture Beyond Cambridge Of course, travelling to the UK also meant experiencing the country itself. During their London Day Tour, students explored Westminster and saw landmarks including Big Ben, the London Eye, Buckingham Palace and Downing Street. A visit to the National Gallery introduced another dimension of British and international culture, before students experienced the energy of Covent Garden. History, art, architecture and culture became things they could see and experience rather than simply read about. Just as importantly, travelling overseas as a group encouraged students to become more independent, responsible and confident away from their usual routines. They had to manage themselves in a different country, adapt to new environments and make connections with people they had only just met. Global Opportunities for Our Tenby Students in Johor Bahru For families choosing a school, international opportunities can sometimes sound like an added extra. We see them as an important part of preparing young people for a world in which their university, career and friendships may take them far beyond Malaysia. Being part of International Schools Partnership connects our students in Johor Bahru to a much wider global education community and creates opportunities for them to experience learning in new places and alongside people from different backgrounds. The Cambridge Summer Camp was one example of what that can look like. Our students returned to Johor with more than photographs and certificates. They came home having navigated another country, learned alongside an international group of peers and experienced one of the world’s great centres of education for themselves. And perhaps most importantly, they returned with a slightly bigger idea of where their own education could take them next.
