Students build replica campus online to support NHS
College students have created online a unique replica build of their 80-acre campus on a video game.
As a result, the group of Concord College students has so far raised an impressive £470 for Shrewsbury and Telford Hospitals.
The replica college model is an imitation of the 80-acre campus put together on Minecraft, a world-renowned game-based learning platform that allows players to enter virtual lands and create their own worlds.
The build took place online after Concord College’s students flew or travelled home around the world to continue their studies remotely as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The 12 students involved, some of whom are studying their A-levels this year, were led by Lancelot Leung, 17, from Hong Kong.
Speaking of the mental effects of lockdown and remote studying, Lancelot said socially distancing could negatively affect young people and often made them feel left out of society.
“Instead of procrastinating, we decided to use our time more wisely and contribute to the world," he said.
“Through the video game, it was a way for students to continue to socialise and chat, or even have group calls when designing and building the virtual school.”
The student group recently contacted members of Concord’s senior management team to inform them that the extensive build project was complete, after almost four months of hard work and complex designing and building.
Lancelot continued: “We’ve now completed all the buildings and features on the main site.
“Due to term starting and members of the team having more important tasks such as personal statements and university applications, we won’t be building the off-site Acton Pigott accommodation or any of the village itself.
“Our current plan is to run the server - hopefully with the college’s IT permissions - and charge a small donation fee for access to it to help continue the NHS fundraising.”
