Dean Stefanie Lenway concluded her first visit to the London Business Semester (LBS) by joining the 48 students in experiencing two British institutions: the Inns of Court and Lloyd’s of London.
LBS students enrolled in the Business Law and Intercultural Communication classes, who have been immersed in the cultural and business differences between the United Kingdom and the United States, were prepared for the learning opportunities provided by the Inns of Court. The four Inns, which serve as professional associations for all barristers who serve in courtroom advocacy and litigation, highlight ways in which the legal systems of the U.K. and the U.S. both influence each other and remain unique. The Blue Badge guided tours also included the Inns’ historic architecture, used for many film and television sets, including The DaVinci Code and Downton Abbey.
The deans and students spent the afternoon at Lloyd's of London, an insurance market located in London's primary financial district, the City of London. Lloyd's, which started in a coffee house along the Thames River, has expanded globally to over 200 countries and contributed in many ways to the modern insurance industry, including the concept of underwriting.
Small groups also toured the iconic Lloyd's building, designed by architect Richard Rogers, which is a leading example of radical Bowellism architecture in which the services for the building, including ducts and elevators, are located on the exterior in order to maximize interior space.
As Dean Lenway and Assistant Dean Georgia Fisher return to St. Paul, LBS students now concentrate on completing their studies in London by December 12.
The 20th anniversary celebration of London Business Semester is just getting started - watch for a special website coming soon, and be sure to save the date for a party in St. Paul on Friday, April 8, 2016, 5-7 p.m.