Students go global with placement scheme

Nine jet-setting students from Leeds City College have travelled across the globe to experience life in Europe, thanks to the Erasmus programme. 

The scheme helps to facilitate students who want to learn and train in Europe – and these college students jumped at the opportunity to catch a flight to some of the world’s most picturesque places, steeped in history and culture.

Four Creative Arts students headed out to Vic, a town which is an hour from Barcelona, for two weeks at local school, Escola d’Art i Superior de Disseny de Vic, where they joined art classes and explored the town.

During their time here, the learners produced a magazine guide which shone a spotlight on their Catalunyan experience.

The trip saw four sports students visit a vocational school in the Netherlands, MBO College Hilversum – ROC van Amsterdam, to take part in a programme of activities and make use of their show-stopping facilities.

One sports student hit the slopes in Austria, where they worked at the Snowshop in Alpendorf.

Laura Jones, Project and Compliance Lead, who’s been working closely on the project, commented: “The college is back running the Erasmus placements after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic. It’s been amazing to see how well the students settled into their placements and immersed themselves in the culture and community. We have three more trips this year going to Finland and Greece, and next year this will be doubled!

“Although the programme will end after next year due to Brexit, the Turing Scheme will be coming into place, giving students the opportunity to undertake placements at partner institutions and companies all over the world. 

“These schemes are a fantastic opportunity for learners to experience another culture, make new friends, gain confidence, boost their CV and develop key life skills.”

Find out more about the Turing Scheme here.