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What do you think contributed to Wedgwood’s ability to withstand the test of time and remain relevant till this day?

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Mr. Wedgwood

Beginning as an independent potter aged just 29, Josiah Wedgwood experimented avidly with clay, exploring its many possibilities.He is today remembered as the "Father of English Potters". His pioneer spirit, vigorous design policy, and his commitment to exacting standards of quality are values that remain at the heart of the brand today.Did you know?1. From 1787 until his death in 1795, Josiah Wedgwood actively participated in the Abolition of Slavery cause.2. Many common sales techniques such as direct mail, money-back guarantee, free delivery, celebrity endorsement, illustrated catalogues and buy one get one free came from Josiah Wedgwood.3. Charles Darwin, best known for his contributions to the science of evolution, was Josiah Wedgwood's grandson.

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Wedgwood History & Heritage - The Story - Wedgwood®

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Discover 260 years of Wedgwood dating back to 1759. Read more about our history, heritage, craft, Royal connections and how an Iconic brand was born.

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Compare between Britain, China and S'pore:

1) How did people fight for democracy?

2) What role did/do the trade unions play?

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Open every day except Tuesdays Gallery One & Gallery Two Explore the development of democracy in Britain: past, present, and future.

The museum is free to visit, most visitors donate £10

Opened in 2010, PHM's main galleries have since included different community co-curation 'interventions', reflecting on what stories are told and what stories are missing.
Family Friendly galleries, suitable for all ages.

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Powered By Reason - poweredbyreason.co.uk

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Gallery One & Gallery Two - People's History Museum

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Visit People's History Museum (PHM) in Manchester UK, the national museum of democracy, telling the story of its development in Britain: past, present, and future.

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Singapore-UK relations and cooperation

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林文庆_泅泳于东西文化之间

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1957年1月1日（87歲）

林文慶，（ Lim Boon Keng，1869年10月18日-1957年1月1日），字 夢琴，星馬地區華人，祖籍 中國福建海澄鳌冠村（今属厦门市海沧区)。他是一位在 新加坡及 中國 推動社會及教育改革的醫師，是中国近现代著名大学校长和教育家。

林文慶的祖父林瑪彭自中國福建海澄遷居至 馬來亞檳榔嶼，娶當地的土生華人為妻，生獨子林天堯，即林文慶的父親。林天堯出生後不久，他們舉家移居到新加坡。後來，林天堯在新加坡娶妻，育有五男二女，其中1869年10月18日出生的林文慶在子嗣中排行第三。1879年，林文慶在新加坡 萊佛士書院求學。孩童時期父母親雙雙去世，這激勵他進入醫學的行業。他在祖父撫養下長大成人，1887年他成為首位接受英國女王獎學金的華人，並進入 英國愛丁堡大學 。他在1892年畢業並取得醫學學位的最高榮譽。

1895年，林文慶成為新加坡海峽殖民地定例局的成員。隔年，他領導一個咨詢委員會深入探討新加坡貧困的原因。此外，他也是一位 太平局紳 及華人參事局（Chinese Advisory Board）局紳。

1897年，林文慶創立華人好學會（Chinese Philomatic society）並出版了第一本海峽華人雜誌。同年，他也鼓吹華人剪除辮子，及推翻滿清政府的理念。

林文慶希望禁止 鴉片 ，建立反鴉片的社會。然而，鴉片卻直到1943年日本占領新加坡時才被禁止。英國政府認為禁止鴉片將使政府失去從鴉片稅而來的收入。為了彌補損失，政府建議加稅在人民的收入上。由於歐裔和亞裔商人反對此事，所以不了了之，而鴉片也未被禁，只是加重了鴉片稅。

1912年，林文慶曾擔任 中華民國臨時大總統孫中山的機要秘書兼醫官。後來孫中山讓位予 袁世凱 ，他又辭職返回新加坡。

在1918年，由於林文慶對大英帝國的服務，獲頒 英帝國官佐勳章。同年獲 香港大學 頒授名譽法學博士學位。

1920年林文慶與 林義順合資成立華僑保險（OAC Insurance）。華僑保險是新加坡第一間當地人擁有的保險公司。隔年6月，在 孫中山先生的請求下，林文慶出任 廈門大學的第二任校長，直到1937年7月 第二次中日戰爭爆發。廈門大學是由他的朋友 陳嘉庚出資創立。 1929年，在廈門大學校長任內，林文慶把《 離騷》翻譯成英文，印度詩人 泰戈爾 為他作序。

1937年，林文慶創立華僑籌賑祖國難民委員會來幫助中國對日抗战。1942年2月，日本人占領新加坡后威脅林文慶擔任 華僑協會主席，發表親日宣言，並要求星马华社缴纳 奉纳金 以示忠诚。林文慶在脅迫下同意了日軍的要求，造成部分華人社會對他的批評。

林文慶晚年像一位小市民般隱居在新加坡。他最後在1957年1月1日逝世，享壽88歲。他最後被埋葬在新加坡的。

林文慶結過兩次婚。第一次是在1896年和黃瑞瓊（Margaret Huang）在 長老教會結婚，他們有四個兒子： 林可勝（Robert Lim Kho Seng）、林可明（Francis Lim Kho Beng）、林可能（Walter Lim Kho Leng）和林可聊（John Lim Kho Liau）。黃瑞瓊是 诗巫聞人 黃乃裳 之女，她在1905年過世。

林文慶的長男 林可勝，和他的父親一樣，接受英國女王獎學金進入英國愛丁堡大學，畢業後任教於 北京協和醫學院。於 第二次中日戰爭 期間，領導軍醫抗日，官拜軍醫中將，戰後前往美國從事研究。

1908年，林文慶再婚，娶殷碧霞（Grace Yin），她是醫生殷雪村胞妹。他們有一個兒子林炳漢（Lim Peng Han），他不久成為一位賽車手，以及一位女兒林月卿（Ena Lim Guat-Kheng）。林文慶還有另一個兒子林炳添（Lim Peng Thiam），是他的妻子的姪女Chui Geok所生，可能沒有婚姻生活。

林文庆毕生追求教育救国理念，是陈嘉庚倾家兴学的追随者。在陈氏的企业收盘后，林文庆四处募捐办学，舍弃自身利益，颇获社会赞许。他主政厦大十六年，造就人才千余人，奠定学校发展根基，堪称中国近现代私立大学校长之典范。

林文庆作为大学校长，既是现代科学的传播者，也是儒学文化传统的捍卫者，竭力推广东南亚的华文教育。1930年12月， 南洋华侨中学 致函林文庆，撰写关于提倡华侨研究华语之英文论文。他在英文复函中，强调"华文学校官话之重要性":"在马来亚现代华文学校中，很久以来官话（北京话）教学已被认为是必不可少的。中国的新文学几乎完全是用白话体。官话是中国普遍使用的语言媒介，因此，很显然，官话是没有哪所华文学校所能忽视的科目。"

林文庆的一生跌宕起伏，时任与今人，中国与海外华人对其的评价颇有差异。其文化理念、教育思想和办学举措，在当时具有超前性，所以在当时的中国难为多数人所认同。但他不顾个人毁誉，笃守"人不知而不愠，不亦君子乎"的儒训，竭诚办学，不懈追求，在 新马 华人心目中的评价是较高的。

厦门大学文庆亭

厦门大学校园内矗立的"文庆亭"铭文记载：林文庆校长，"倾其睿智才学，运筹操劳，主理校政十六载，学校事业蒸蒸日上，硕彦咸集，鸿才叠起，声名远播海内外，与公办名校并驾前驱。"其亭联曰："十六载耿耿乎礼门义路，千百年熙熙矣时雨春风"，横批："唯有文庆"。

新加坡 加冷河和 黄埔河之间的地区命名為 文慶，包括 文慶地鐵站、 文慶路、 文慶路上段 等，都是從林文慶而來。 厦门大学也立有文庆亭。

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林文庆 - 维基百科，自由的百科全书

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1957年1月1日（87歲） 林文慶，（ Lim Boon Keng，1869年10月18日-1957年1月1日），字 夢琴，星馬地區華人，祖籍 中國 福建 海澄鳌冠村（今属厦门市海沧区)。他是一位在 新加坡及 中國 推動社會及教育改革的醫師，是中国近现代著名大学校长和教育家。 林文慶的祖父林瑪彭自中國福建海澄遷居至 馬來亞 檳榔嶼，娶當地的土生華人為妻，生獨子林天堯，即林文慶的父親。林天堯出生後不久，他們舉家移居到新加坡。後來，林天堯在新加坡娶妻，育有五男二女，其中1869年10月18日出生的林文慶在子嗣中排行第三。1879年，林文慶在新加坡 萊佛士書院求學。孩童時期父母親雙雙去世，這激勵他進入醫學的行業。他在祖父撫養下長大成人，1887年他成為首位接受英國女王獎學金的華人，並進入 英國 愛丁堡大學 。他在1892年畢業並取得醫學學位的最高榮譽。 1895年，林文慶成為新加坡海峽殖民地定例局的成員。隔年，他領導一個咨詢委員會深入探討新加坡貧困的原因。此外，他也是一位 太平局紳 及華人參事局（Chinese Advisory Board）局紳。 1897年，林文慶創立華人好學會（Chinese Philomatic society）並出版了第一本海峽華人雜誌。同年，他也鼓吹華人剪除辮子，及推翻滿清政府的理念。 林文慶希望禁止 鴉片 ，建立反鴉片的社會。然而，鴉片卻直到1943年日本占領新加坡時才被禁止。英國政府認為禁止鴉片將使政府失去從鴉片稅而來的收入。為了彌補損失，政府建議加稅在人民的收入上。由於歐裔和亞裔商人反對此事，所以不了了之，而鴉片也未被禁，只是加重了鴉片稅。 1912年，林文慶曾擔任 中華民國臨時大總統 孫中山的機要秘書兼醫官。後來孫中山讓位予 袁世凱 ，他又辭職返回新加坡。 在1918年，由於林文慶對大英帝國的服務，獲頒 英帝國官佐勳章。同年獲 香港大學 頒授名譽法學博士學位。 1920年林文慶與 林義順合資成立華僑保險（OAC Insurance）。華僑保險是新加坡第一間當地人擁有的保險公司。隔年6月，在 孫中山先生的請求下，林文慶出任 廈門大學的第二任校長，直到1937年7月 第二次中日戰爭爆發。廈門大學是由他的朋友 陳嘉庚出資創立。 1929年，在廈門大學校長任內，林文慶把《 離騷》翻譯成英文，印度詩人 泰戈爾 為他作序。

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林文庆_双文化人_李元瑾博士撰

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https://www.wedgwood.com/en-gb/welcometowedgwood/collaborators/xiao-zhan

Chinese actor Xiao Zhan was chosen as the first ever Global Brand Ambassador in Wedgwood’s history.

1) Suggest some considerations behind this decision.

2) What other connections to Chinese or Chinese culture did you observe in Wedgwood’s story?

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Xiao Zhan is both charming and professional, with an elegance and confidence that perfectly resonates with our brand values of heritage, craftsmanship and innovation. Xiao Zhan’s passion, love and dedication made him the perfect fit to be the first ever Global Brand Ambassador in Wedgwood’s history.

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UK’s role in the world

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Singaporean Community in the UK

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Diplomatic Work and Daily Responsibilities in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs / How to join the MFA

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4. Career and education paths in diplomacy / foreign affairs

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Global issues and Singapore’s roles

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Others

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Indicate your questions for the Singapore High Commission in the UK under the relevant categories (at least 1 question per person) by leaving comments under the respective posts.

In the Commonwealth of Nations, a high commissioner is the senior diplomat, generally ranking as an ambassador, in charge of the diplomatic mission of one Commonwealth government to another.

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One key learning point about the UK is its ability to maintain global influence through cultural diplomacy and historical legacy. Despite its diminished economic and military might compared to its imperial peak, the UK leverages its "soft power" by inviting the BBC, a globally recognised news station, to the Media City in Manchester. The role of London as a global financial hub further consolidates its influence, blending cultural and economic strength.

For instance, visiting the London Ashmolean Museum highlighted how the UK uses its vast collection of artefacts to showcase its historical connections to the world, presenting itself as a center of global heritage. Similarly, the integration of cultural experiences like afternoon tea and royal ceremonies symbolises the enduring appeal of British traditions.

Comparatively, Singapore exemplifies soft power through its multiculturalism and success as a global trade and innovation hub. For example, the Gardens by the Bay attracts worldwide attention, promoting its image as a garden city, and its hawker culture promotes the multicultural heritage as well.

Meanwhile, China and the USA contrast in their balance of hard and soft power. China emphasises economic might and technological advancements, such as the Belt and Road Initiative. The USA, like the UK, excels in soft power through media and technology, but retains dominance through military and economic leadership.

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Phylicia (Edited): Through this trip to the UK, I witnessed how the country exercised its hard power historically, like its economic and technological achievements, as well as its soft power currently, such as its culture and values.

At Bletchley Park, I saw how Britain’s code-breaking efforts during World War II boosted its scientific and technological leadership during WW2. The MediaCity tour showcased the industrialization of Manchester as well as the future of Manchester as a business and media district, key to the UK’s industrial success historically and presently. These reflect the UK’s hard power—using technology and economic strength to shape its global role.

The UK’s hard power is still very much evident despite its fall in the world standing, through its role in the financial market and military in the Middle East. Similarly, Singapore’s hard power is exercised through Finance and we also pride ourselves in our Military.

In terms of environmental sustainability in infrastructure, we also saw many successes and challenges in the UK, both of which we can learn and implement in Singapore, especially with high precipitation in our country. Such as the slants on the ground, water collection system, heat distribution system and materials for construction (limestone) for a cooling effect. Many designs are similar to what we have in Singapore, but have a slight variation, we can consider them.

Soft Power

The UK’s cultural strength was evident in places like Oxford which showcased its academic excellence, how it is a magnet that attracts foreign talents and students from all over the world. The Ashmolean Museum is a showcase of its political influence throughout history, through military, economic and culture.

Singapore also uses soft power through its multicultural identity such as the Hawker Culture and our racial diversity.

As compared to Singapore, UK has a unique university tutorial system where one to one teacher to student session are held for deeper education. In terms of schooling, they also pride themselves in work-life balance as shared by our seniors.

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The UK has a rich history and plays an important role in today's economy.

In Manchester, we learned about the adaptability in UK as Manchester shifted from being a trading hub to a modern media center, in order to boost the economy. I think Singapore and all other countries can learn from this adaptibility and make changes quickly to suit the needs of the people.

In Oxford,we understood UK's tradition of education and culture through visiting different colleges. This showcases UK's soft power as prestigious Education institutions like Oxford contribute greatly to educating the masses. Singapore's own Education institutions like NUS also attract students globally, with soft power similar to UK's.

London's museums, such as the Victoria & Albert Museum, emphasize the UK's role in preserving history (eg. through artefacts and artworks), while touring the museum we also keep in mind how many of these artefacts are from former colonies, this raises complex questions on cultural heritage and legacy. Singapore, not being a colonial master historically, does not have such a vast collection of artefacts from around the world like in the UK, but we still take pride in Art from our country and Singaporean culture, and proudly display them in our own museums (National Gallery etc).

Additionally, the visit to the Bank of England highlighted the UK's economic power and role in finance. The Bank of England is crucial to economic stability in UK.

In contrast to UK, Singapore's traditional culture is not as old, since we are a younger nation, I feel that we focus more on technology and urban innovation to stay relevant and have a place in the global market.

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Yixi (editted)

Through this trip to the UK, I have learnt how the country uses both hard and soft power to shape its global presence.

Hard power (econ and tech)

The UK’s hard power can be seen through its economic and technological achievements (for instance the country’s role in the industrial revolution and its financial leadership today.) At Bletchley Park, I learned about Britain’s history of code-breaking efforts during World War II, which strengthened its scientific and technological standing and saved many lives. The MediaCity tour in Manchester showcased the city's growth as both an industrial and media hub, showcasing UK's current economic influence.

Soft power (education and culture):

On the other hand, the UK’s soft power is deepyl rooted in its rich cultural legacy, prominent in world renowned educational institutions like Oxford University and its museums. Its rich cultural legacy attracts people from all around the world, emphasizing UK’s role as a global center of education and culture.

Comparison:

Compared to Sg, UK’s hard power is achieved through a long history, while sg focuses on achievements more modern, eg: its global financial position and advanced infrastructure. Both countries use soft power, but Singapore emphasises more on its multicultural identity, eg Sg Hawker culture/ Sg food culture and racial diversity. The UK’s unique educational system, consisting personalised teacher-student interactions, prominently practiced in Oxford Uni, showcased uk’s commitment to achieving academic excellence. In terms of sustainability, we learnt about both successes and challenges in the UK’s infrastructure through the Sustainable Architecture Walking Tour, which offers valuable lessons we can learn and practice for Singapore. All in all, both nations utilises hard and soft power in ways that reflect our histories and current global ambitions and priorities.

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This trip to UK helped me learn about history, culture and political affairs of the UK.

In Manchester, I learned about the city’s role as a cotton and textile industry during the Industrial Revolution, due to its favourable geographical location which allows for rainfall. In current times, the media city in Manchester continues to be an investment hub for people all over the world, and hosts a wide variety of companies such as BBC.

In Oxford, the most memorable experience was the student exchange with Singaporean students  at Oxford University. I learned about the collegiate system unique to Oxford University. We also learned about the flagship programmes by each college such as Political Science in Queen’s College. Adding on, we further understood the difference between studying in the UK and Singapore, the main differences being the pace of study and student life experience.

Finally, in London, I learned much about culture and history. One of the learning points for me was how UK still operates as a constitutional monarchy. This was very apparent to me when we visited Buckingham Palace and the Churchill museums to see how UK functions as compared to Singapore. During the dialogue with the first secretary of the Singapore High Commission, I also learned more about the economic and political situation of UK through the lens of a Singaporean. I was very grateful to have learned about Brexit and how it impacts the world market.

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In this trip, I was able to see UK's soft power, which is rooted in its cultural influence, values, and global reputation. Its cultural institutions like museums (Ashmolean, V&A, Bank of England, Churchill's War house etc.) evolved over time, some starting as private collections and growing into public spaces dedicated to education and preservation. Through exhibitions, artifacts, and interactive displays, they tell the story of the past, shaping the nation's cultural identity. Other than that, we also had a walk in London to learn about their sustainable architecture, how it contributes to protecting the environment and saving energy. On the last day, we visited Thames Barrier info centre to learn more about how UK adapts to natural disasters like floods and protect the people there. I also found the Thames Barrier similar to the Marina Barrage as the Marina Barrage also prevents tidal flooding in the low-lying city by regulating the flow of seawater into the Marina Bay.

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This trip to the United Kingdom has been very insightful and interesting as it has enabled us to see first hand the former economic powerhouse and how it has evolved from then to now.

In our history textbooks, there are many ways that illustrate the United Kingdom’s history of power and influence and this can be linked to how the United Kingdom is still quite influential on the world stage. For example, Singaporean English is mainly British English as we were once developed by Britain in terms of education, finance, and healthcare etc. This shows the hard power Britain had because of its history as a former colonial power, and current soft power as it still has far reaching influence over its former colonies and around the world.

On this trip, we have seen many sights such as those in Bletchley Park, the Ashmolean Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum. All these hold important and ancient artifacts of many places around the world because of Britains former inhabitance of these areas. Because they hold all these important historical artifacts, they do have a say in what to do with these artifacts and has captured the attention of many people with these items, which aptly shows soft power.

However, Britain has no doubt declined in power and influence over the years after decolonisation because it now lacks the authority to make use of its colonies to improve itself. Hence, in terms of hard power, Britain does not have much over other countries, and has in fact been replaced by the United States of America and China, who have enough power and influence to have a significant presence on the world and its decisions will massively impact most things worldwide. Singapore has come a far way from a small colony to a powerful economy because it had a good foundation and great leaders, which I feel is something Britain has lacked which led to its decline, for example Brexit inconveniencing the British. In general, I feel that Britain has a lot to be proud of and many things that Singapore can learn from, but it should also efficiently solve its own internal problems first before becoming more prominent on the world stage.

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Xinwei:

Manchester: From the walking tour, I realised the amazing ecosystems of the salford quay- it became breeding grounds for birds like swans and the area was slowly developing into a nature reserve despite the fact that it is thriving to develop economically too. Another key learning point is how Manchester progressed from a major cotton industry into a thriving city of commerce and technology. Similarly for Singapore, it had progressed as a small island into a thriving country economically and made itself known on a global stage.

Oxford: The highlight for me in Oxford was visiting the different colleges as part of the Oxford University. The architectural style was very different from that of Singapore’s as many still maintained the older architecture style since its history also dates back to a much older time as compared to Singapore. (Singapore’s NUS is mainly modern buildings whereas all the colleges we visited had styles like baroque, gothic, etc.) It was really interesting to compare the older and newer buildings in Oxford and some colleges even had a combination of two styles. This shows the cultural and historical differences between the UK and Singapore.

London: One observation I made in London was the architectural designs difference it has compared to previous two cities. Through visiting the Victoria & Albert Museum, I saw a variety of collections of artefacts and what really stood out to me was the number of artworks and sculptures that depicted stories from the Bible which really shows how big the influence of Christianity was in the olden days which drove many artists to create art based on that. The museum made me think about British’s colonial power in the past, that gained them the artefacts from around the world which showed its influence as a huge empire in the past.  In the sustainable city walking tour, I learnt about some measures put in place to help London run more sustainably and efficiently, for example the drainage system where rainwater is collected with sloping pavements and then used again in cleaning of buildings or watering of plants. It makes me realise different methods that could be used to run a city more sustainably such that it is useful and efficient (taking the Strata Tower for example, it had wind turbines to provide energy yet the noises wind turbines made were not taken into consideration, hence the turbines were then no longer used).

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This immersion trip was an incredible opportunity to experience a new culture and gain new perspectives. Over the course of 9 days, I was able to immerse myself in a completely different environment, which was both challenging and rewarding. One of the most memorable parts of my trip was the visit to Wedgwood factory. I was particularly fascinated by numerous pottery pieces and how the designs were meticulously carved and decorated. It was also interesting to notice the differences in the styles, ranging from traditional Chinese elements (such as zodiac signs) to Greek sculptures (for example we saw a man sculpting a model of Venus), which gave me a new appreciation for cultural diversity.

Comparing with the green technology that UK and Singapore uses, what I realize most is that Singapore uses solar energy as its primary source of sustainable energy. Although in UK, there are many buildings that uses solar panels to generate power from the sun, they are also able to build wind turbines due to the large land space that they have and the windy weather.

During the dialogue session with First Secretary (Political), Mr Ivan Tan, I have learnt the importance of having strong relationships with UK, despite it not having the same global power as it had before. Like what Mr Tan had said, there are many things that we can learnt from the UK and many things that we can offer to them.For example, after Brexit, UK is trying to diversify away from the EU and sees the Indo-pacific as a place that offers new markets for its trade. Singapore is working towards achieving Singapore Green Plan 2030, it is important for us to also learnt from the UK about their green urban planning that they have. Such as the shape of architecture, materials that they use (what we have seen in the sustainable tour). Their effective planning can be seen from the 15% power generated by wind power.

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With reference to the CQ ‘buckets of culture’ or ‘hard & soft power’ (economic & military might, including technology, versus influence via culture and values), share on your key learning point(s) on the UK.

Make a comparison with S’pore and/or China/USA if you can. Feel free to use an analogy or a picture (e.g. Use Padlet’s “I can’t draw” to generate an image with AI) to illustrate your point. Include specific examples from our trip in your written explanation.

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Hui Xuan

After coming to the UK, I noticed that there were many differences in the culture. At Oxford, I really got to immerse myself in the rich history of the colleges and buildings around. It was really breathtaking to see buildings hundreds of years old, and learn about all the amazing people that have studied and graduated from Oxford. The most memorable moment for me was walking into the library at Queen's college, where we saw books that were hundreds of years old. In comparison, Singapore does not have buildings that date back as far away as the 1300s, and it was really a fulfilling experience.

Throughout the span of 9 days, we got to try many different types of food, from British fish and chips and Italian pasta, to Chinese meals in restaurants. And this made me think about the diversity of the food we have in Singapore as well! Just like how food from UK is expensive in Singapore, food from Singapore is expensive in the UK as well!

We also got to go on interesting tours, such as the tour at Mediacity in Manchester, learning about how it managed to reinvent itself, and how similar it was to our Singapore River. Another tour that was interesting was the sustainable architecture tour in London, where we explored the different features of buildings that keep it sustainable, and learning about how some factors that were unforeseen in the modeling and planning of the buildings could affect the functions, and learnt that we need to think of future development around the buildings (there may be other buildings blocking the sun and the solar panels will not work as well as expected, reducing the benefits; the wind turbines may cause unbearable noise etc)

Christmas culture: People in the UK view Christmas as an important event, and I felt the Christmas spirit all around, with many Christmas decorations, Christmas markets and shops selling Christmas related items. We were given time to walk around in one of the Christmas markets and most of us really felt the Christmas spirit through and through, with all the Christmas music being blasted, people in Santa costumes walking around etc.

Wine drinking culture: We often see that shops sell mulled wine and many others, and there are alot of pubs all around. Peoplw would go there to discuss business over a drink, for leisure, and much more. During the exchange with our alumni 姐姐们 and fellow Singaporeans studying in Oxford, they also mentioned that this was one of their biggest culture shocks!

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Chenyin (edited): With reference to ‘Soft and Hard Power’, we can see that UK has a relatively strong influence around the world. The BBC is a is a strong example of the British soft power. The BBC is one of the most trusted news source globally. BBC provides resources for educational purposes for students around the world and also play a crucial role in raising global awareness about important topics to a wide audience. Singapore also has high quality production like Channel News Asia but its cultural exports are not as significant as the BBC.

The Ashmolean Museum is an example of the UK’s soft power. It holds a huge collection of art and historical artefacts from around the world, like ancient Egyptian statues and Greek pottery. By showcasing these items, it helps people from different countries understand and appreciate each other’s cultures. The museum also supports education through exhibits and research, which strengthens the UK’s reputation for knowledge and learning. It attracts visitors from all over, who come to see its collections and learn about history, making the UK a respected place for culture and ideas. With the strong cultural influence around the world, UK was also able to earn and benefit from to strengthen their own economy.

At the Buckingham palace, we witnessed the change of guards ceremony. The ceremony, being a globally recognised event, also attracts millions of tourists, enhancing UK’s cultural influence and boosted their economy.

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Hui Xuan (edited)

After coming to the UK, I noticed that there were many similarities and differences in the culture of Singapore and the UK. At Oxford, I really got to immerse myself in the rich history of the colleges and buildings around. It was really breathtaking to see buildings hundreds of years old, and learn about all the amazing people that have studied and graduated from Oxford. The most memorable moment for me was walking into the library at Queen's college, where we saw books that were hundreds of years old. In comparison, Singapore does not have buildings that date back as far away as the 1300s, and it was really a fulfilling experience.

Throughout the span of 9 days, we got to try many different types of food, from British fish and chips and Italian pasta, to Chinese meals in restaurants. And this made me think about the diversity of the food we have in Singapore as well! Just like how food from UK is expensive in Singapore, food from Singapore is expensive in the UK as well!

We also got to go on interesting tours, such as the tour at Mediacity in Manchester, learning about how it managed to reinvent itself, and how similar it was to our Singapore River. Another tour that was interesting was the sustainable architecture tour in London, where we explored the different features of buildings that keep it sustainable, and learning about how some factors that were unforeseen in the modeling and planning of the buildings could affect the functions, and learnt that we need to think of future development around the buildings (there may be other buildings blocking the sun and the solar panels will not work as well as expected, reducing the benefits; the wind turbines may cause unbearable noise etc)

Christmas culture: People in the UK view Christmas as an important event, and I felt the Christmas spirit all around, with many Christmas decorations, Christmas markets and shops selling Christmas related items. We were given time to walk around in one of the Christmas markets and most of us really felt the Christmas spirit through and through, with all the Christmas music being blasted, people in Santa costumes walking around etc.

Wine drinking culture: We often see that shops sell mulled wine and many others, and there are alot of pubs all around. Peoplw would go there to discuss business over a drink, for leisure, and much more. During the exchange with our alumni 姐姐们 and fellow Singaporeans studying in Oxford, they also mentioned that this was one of their biggest culture shocks!

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A Singaporean looking at artefacts in the London Ashmolean Museum (AI generated)

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A singaporean looking at artefacts in the London Ashmolean museum 

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Through this trip to the UK, I have gotten a deeper insight into its hard and soft power. I think the UK wields its soft power mainly in the fields of innovation, education and pop culture. Innovation includes its fruitful attempts to make its cities 'green', as we learned in the Manchester walking tour and the sustainable architecture tour. As for education, we visited Oxford, a globally renowned education institute which influences and shapes young minds from across the globe. Les Mis is an example of the rich classical and pop culture the UK has. Additionally, the UK's rich history and culture is also part of the soft power it has as it is a well respected country.

Meanwhile, I think the UK wields its hard power in its economic power and diplomacy with other countries. We were lucky enough to witness how the UK carries out diplomacy through our visit to the High Commission. On our walking tours in London, we also saw its government area (Westminster) as well as financial hub. However, it is true that the UK has to revamp some of its old legislations in order to move forward and expand its economy, as pointed out by First Secretary, Mr Ivan Tan.

The careful diplomacy that gives the UK some of its hard power is also reflected in how Singapore tries to maintain good relationships with countries, especially in SEA. For example, while we do not always maintain a neutral stance, we do not forget how other countries have helped us (e.g. Israel). Another parallel between the 2 countries is how they try to use innovation to make their cities greener and more sustainable. In Singapore, many buildings have incorporated climbing gardens or rooftop gardens, and there are many green park connectors across the country.

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A Singaporean eating Laksa at the London Borough Market.

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A Singaporean eating Laksa at the London Burough Market

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Yolanda: One key learning point from this trip to UK would be how they leverage historical legacies such as the Commonwealth. For example, the English Language was spread during the colonial era, and still remains very relevant as the dominant global language in various aspects such as education and business. During our trip, we also tried the English Breakfast at the Wedgwood Museum. Though it has been adapted in various countries but it remains distinctly British at its core.

Like the UK, Singapore also focuses more on pragmatic soft power, promoting itself as a model of economic success and multicultural harmony. An example would be our hawker centre culture and Racial Harmony Day.

For China, they develop their military skills and missile technology to secure regional dominance, for example the “South China Sea”.

The most memorable moment for me was when we visited the different colleges in Oxford University. I was amazed at the education system where they had 1 to 1 university tutors. I loved how our seniors and jiejiemen from SNGS were so helpful and I am really grateful for them! :)

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Test - using the “I can’t draw” function (刘老师)

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UK’s past hard power and current soft power (AI generated)

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UK’s hard power stuck in the past but retaining soft power today.