Building on the huge success of last autumn’s opening festival, Kings Place once again staged a staggering 100 concerts in three days – with a genre-defying selection that brings together classical, contemporary, blues avant-garde, world, folk and spoken word.

Taking part were some of the finest musicians, composers and performers from the UK and beyond – including the legendary Chilingirian Quartet, the London Sinfonietta and BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards winner Chris Wood.

There were a host of free events including jazz and choral concerts together with a variety of arts exhibitions.

Kevin – www.studylondn.ac.uk

Alistair Birt, skills sensation

Thames Valley University (TVU) student, Alistair Birt, has become one of the top confectioners in the world after competing in the international skills competition, WorldSkills 2009 in Canada.

The WorldSkills Competition is the biggest international skills competition in the world and sees young people compete in over 40 skill categories, ranging from furniture making to web design.

Alistair, a BSc Culinary Arts Management student, faced some tough competition to be selected to represent the UK in the confectioner/pastry cook category. Over the four-day event, Alistair was tested in a range of skills, including marzipan modelling, pastries, chocolate making and a presentation centrepiece.

He came through the test a success to collect a Medallion for Excellence in recognition of reaching an international standard of excellence.

Kevin – www.studylondon.ac.uk

Elisabeth Bond's exhibition

University of East London (UEL) MA Fine Art and Contemporary Design Practice students exhibited their creative talent at a recent exhibition.

The six international students showcased their projects as part of the university’s art shows. Projects on display include Yiran Wu’s colourful photographic portfolio which included a contemporary red book referencing Mao’s little Red Book of the Cultural Revolution.

Yiran’s book explores and contrasts London with her home city of Beijing from the perspective of someone who has lived in both cities.

The show, which is open to the public, also features the work of Elisabeth Bond (pictured) that was influenced from her time in Italy.

Kevin – www.studylondon.ac.uk

The National Gallery

Inside Out is a major new arts festival organised by nine of London’s leading creative universities.

It is the UK’s first-ever festival of higher education and will see a range of cultural events taking place all over the city, both on-campus and at leading cultural venues in the city including King’s Place, Somerset House and the National Portrait Gallery.

From film and music to theatre and visual art, from exhibitions and screenings to workshops and debates, the Inside Out Festival will add an extra splash of colour and energy to the city’s university campuses in October.

The participating universities are:

• University of the Arts London
• Birkbeck, University of London
• City University London
• The Courtauld Institute of Art
• Goldsmiths, University of London
• Guildhall School of Music & Drama
• King’s College London
• Queen Mary, University of London
• Royal Holloway, University of London

Kevin – www.studylondon.ac.uk

The Love London Green Festival will host hundreds of free events to help Londoners save the planet. The festival aims to make the city a greener, cleaner and healthier place to live.

The festival inspires local communities to get passionate about our planet with a variety of interesting and fun events. This year the festival will be based upon the themes of green places, green living and green innovations.

Many events will even show you how to save money by protecting the environment, whether it be growing your own vegetables or cancelling your gym membership and cycling to work.

Simon – www.studylondon.ac.uk

Film Maker, Mike Leigh (Source: Simon Mein/Thin Man Films)

Arts Week, a biennial celebration of the humanities, social sciences and law, recently took place at Queen Mary, University of London with a series of lectures, discussions, performances and workshops.

This year’s four-day cultural extravaganza boasted an interview with one of Britain’s most significant film makers and the six-time Oscar nominee Mike Leigh, who reflected on his 40-year career as a filmmaker and playwright. Mike Leigh is an alumni of London’s Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and produced seminal British films such as Naked, Secrets and Lies and Vera Drake.

Other festival highlights included stimulating debates about ethics in medicine, the economics of smoking and how to get published as a writer.

A series of podcasts were recorded so you too can listen to the discussions.

Kevin – www.studylondon.ac.uk

Boris Johnson meets international students (source: James O'Jenkins)

The Mayor’s Office and Study London recently hosted an international student reception to celebrate the contribution of international students to the diversity and vibrancy of the capital’s city life.

More than 4,000 students from over 140 nations applied to meet the Mayor, who enjoyed meeting with students from London’s universities.

In addition to getting a highly-prized photo with Boris Johnson, students networked, made new friends and enjoyed the spectacular panoramic views of London’s skyline from London’s Living Room at City Hall.

Simon – www.studylondon.ac.uk

London Fashion Week (source: Catwalk.com)

Students from Central Saint Martins showcased their debut collections at this year’s London Fashion Week, one of the fashion world’s highest profile events.

CSM’s catwalk show is a renowned indicator of what you’ll be wearing in the future. This year’s extravaganza was hosted by American model Tyson Beckford and attracted fashion models like Erin O’Connor with a vibrant mix of slim silhouettes combined with asymmetric cuts and bright colours.

One CSM student, David Koma, a designer from St. Petersburg, was awarded a prize by Harrods for his collection and he will be given the opportunity to display his clothes in the luxury retailer’s famous store windows.

London Fashion Week has launched the careers of many fashion icons including Stella McCartney and John Galliano of Dior, both graduates of CSM, a college of the University of Arts London.

Simon – www.studylondon.ac.uk

The London International Youth Science Forum celebrates its 50th anniversary with the launch of brand new website www.liysf.org.uk and plans for its 2009 conference.

There are more than 120,000 students studying science related subjects in London's universities

Over 200 science students from 50 countries will travel to London between 29 July and 12 August 2009 to exchange ideas at the Forum. This year’s keynote speaker is Professor John Ellis, a physicist from the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN).

The theme for 2009 is ‘Science Serving Mankind’ and the conference will explore how science leads to the advancement of humanity. Leading scientists, dignitaries and industry pioneers will give lectures throughout the two weeks and participants have the opportunity to visit pioneering industrial sites, world-renowned scientific institutions and innovative research centres in London.

Kevin – www.studylondon.acuk

The role of literature and the arts in exploring important social issues will be key themes underpinning the London School of Economics (LSE) literary festival, which will take place between Friday 27 February – Sunday 1 March 2009.

(source: LSE)

The Space for Thought literary weekend, which is free to attend, will include discussions on political satire and biography writing. There will also be a series of creative writing workshops with advice for writers on how to get published.

Several authors will be discussing their latest works such as Booker Prize winner, Ben Okri and Iain Sinclair, who will discuss his new book Hackney, That Rose-Red Empire and its focus on the landscape, history and people of East London.

Participants from outside the literary world include Antony Gormley, the internationally renowned sculptor. Anthony Giddens, former director of LSE and sociologist, will discuss the financial crisis, climate change and energy.

Ever since its foundation in 1895, the LSE has always been a laboratory of the social sciences making it a perfect home to explore the power of words.

Kevin – www.studylondon.ac.uk