Digital Business in the Streets of London

Last semester, students from the University of California Education Abroad Program arrived in London to take part in the Business and Entrepreneurship program, enrolling in various courses related to management in the British capital. One of the courses that was offered was “Digital Technology and Work,” taught by Dr. Jamie Woodcock. The course delved into the world of digital technology and how this industry is reshaping different work environments and organizations. Throughout the semester, students looked at the role technology has played overtime in relation to work, entrepreneurship, and the economy. This class takes advantage of resources in the city, allowing students to explore London businesses, meet local entrepreneurs, and study the British economy.

One of these learning activities was a guest lecture by Annaliza Sturge, co-founder of Street Hunt Games, a small company that specializes in immersive app-based games. Street Hunt offers outdoors experiences in London that take participants on a journey to solve a murder mystery while exploring locations around London. During her lecture, Annaliza discussed with students her experience as a young entrepreneur in London, describing the history of her startup, from the initial idea to its present success. Throughout the lecture, Annaliza focused on the use of digital technology, both to run their games and to operate and grow the business. In meeting with Annaliza, students also benefitted from personal insight by Alexandra Padilla, a student from UCLA who interned at Street Hunt Games during the program.

After hearing about Annaliza’s work and her company, students then had the chance to experience Street Hunt Games first-hand, participating in one of their activities. Divided in teams of four, they had to work together to solve puzzles and answer questions at different sites around the city. The app took students to several beautiful hidden sites, such as Gunpowder Square, Dr. Johnson’s House, and several historic locations around Fleet Street.

Thanks to this meeting, students gained a deeper perspective on startups and entrepreneurship in the U.K., connecting what they learned in the classroom to local examples. As participants in the game, they then explored parts of London they may not have otherwise seen, demonstrating the value of growing business and their unique missions.

Accent collaborates with U.S. partners during the program design process to identify company visits, expert guest speakers, and other experiential learning activities to complement program learning goals. Please reach out to Accent’s Program Development team at development@accentglobal.com if you are interested in discussing these ideas for your customized study abroad programs.