Centre for Teaching and Learning Economics

Five secondary schools around London were selected to take part in the new Economics Challenge modelled around the First Year Challenge. On February 11^th, each school sent students from year 10 and year 11 to experience what it would be like to study economics in a university environment.

Professor Antonio Cabrales, UCL Economics Head of Department, Alice King, from UCL’s Access and Widening Participation Office, and Dr. Parama Chaudhury, UCL Economics Principal Teaching Fellow, first introduced the students to UCL, the Economics Department, and what grades/scores are needed to study economics in university.

The students were then encouraged to brainstorm within their groups. The challenge is based on creating a 3-min video or podcast focusing on their local area and relating it to CORE’s The Economy Unit 1. UCL student mentors, our own economics undergraduate students, were assigned to guide each group in preparing for the challenge as they themselves have already experienced the First Year Challenge. All of the students’ discussions during the Monday session were super lively and engaging so we can’t wait to see what they come up with!  

A celebration session will take place on March 4^th where the winning groups will be announced.