RiSE International

RiSE International has partnered with South Gloucestershire and Stroud College (SGS) and BSix College in London to send students on potentially life-changing trips to Canada, Greece and Portugal. 

The consortium was awarded £748,000 by the UK Government’s Turing Scheme to send 160 students on global work experience placements specific to their chosen vocations during the 2021 to 2022 academic year. 

London-based RiSE International is a social enterprise that provides flexible, tailored guidance to vocational colleges and their students to enable them to set up work placements abroad.  

The Turing Scheme project will have a particular focus on recruiting students from disadvantaged backgrounds or with special educational needs (SEN), who face multiple barriers to accessing international opportunities. 

Strengthening international relationships 

In arranging the placements RiSE has strengthened existing partnerships in Greece and Portugal, whilst also expanding its horizons with new partners in Canada. 

Sarah Hitchcock, co-director, said: “We will work with vocational tutors, careers coordinators and SEN teams to identify those who will benefit most, in terms of distance travelled and access to previous international opportunities. 

“This project will offer unique career-building opportunities. Learning outcomes will be tailored to the individual, covering employability, careers development, transferable soft skills and sector specific technical skills.  

“Through expanded awareness and experience of the global labour market, participants will increase employability and confidence in navigating labour market opportunities.”  

The project will recruit current learners and those who have graduated within the last year for placements focused on travel and tourism, hospitality and catering, health and social care, construction, and sport. 

Once-in-a-lifetime opportunity

Kishan Pithia, vice principal student experience at Hackney’s BSix College, said: “The experience of travelling and having work experience abroad will be a valuable tool in their journey into further education and the workplace.  

“Apart from their inherent value, young people can also develop positive tangible outcomes from experiences of interacting and working with others through organised extra-curricular activities such as work experience and travel.” 

Maiya King, a BSix childcare and education student will be undertaking a placement in Vancouver. 

“It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and it will be impactful to both my personal and professional life in many ways,” she said. “By going on this work placement programme, I am pushing myself to do wonderful things for my career and this will encourage me to make choices that are outside of my comfort zone.  

“By taking part in this incredible opportunity, I hope to learn about diverse cultures and how I can broaden my knowledge whilst being in a different part of the world.” 

Fellow BSix student Hazera Hoque will also travel to the Canadian city for a placement related to her health and social care course.  

Going the extra mile

“I wanted this opportunity to do work experience abroad to stand out from my peers and demonstrate my passion,” she said. “It will make quite a statement when I go on to university and to my future employers.” 

Steve Hall, head of employer engagement at Stroud-based SGS College, said: ”We’ve never sent students to Canada before. This is a fantastic opportunity to engage with such a wonderful, outdoorsy country. We are so appreciative of RiSE International for working with us to arrange this.” 

SGS travel and tourism student Ayane Hassan will also travel to Vancouver to gain valuable work experience. 

“This internship gives me the opportunity to go out of my comfort zone and learn to adapt in a different environment and workplace abroad,” she said. “I am willing to contribute and use my skills to go the extra mile.” 

Read more about FE and VET funding opportunities on our dedicated webpage.