Breaking Down Barriers to Global Opportunities: Leicester College case study
Leicester College is one of the largest colleges in the region, supporting more than 10,000 learners each year across a diverse range of academic, technical and vocational programmes. The college is committed to widening participation and creating opportunities for learners from all backgrounds, including those from disadvantaged communities, learners with SEND, young carers and looked-after children.
Through its international programmes, Leicester College provides learners with the chance to develop their skills, confidence and employability through overseas work placements. These experiences help learners broaden their horizons, gain valuable industry insight and develop the cultural awareness needed to thrive in an increasingly global workforce.
The Project
Leicester College applied to the Foundation for a grant to help remove financial barriers for learners participating in international work placements in Thailand and Bali. While placement costs were supported through external funding, many learners faced additional expenses associated with travelling abroad, including suitable clothing, footwear and essential travel equipment.
The funding enabled the college to provide 20 learners with practical items needed to take part in their placements, including climate-appropriate clothing, travel adaptors and rucksacks. By ensuring learners had access to the resources required for international travel, the project helped reduce financial pressures and allowed students to focus on making the most of their experience.
The international placements offer learners the opportunity to develop vocational skills within real working environments while building confidence, resilience and independence. Learners are encouraged to engage with different cultures, working practices and perspectives, helping them develop valuable transferable skills that will support their future progression into employment or further study.
The project also created a legacy by establishing a bank of travel equipment that can be reused by future learners participating in international mobility opportunities, helping to maximise the long-term impact of the funding.
Benefits
Many of the learners participating in the programme face financial or personal barriers that could prevent them from accessing international opportunities. The Foundation grant helped ensure that these learners were not excluded from taking part due to the cost of essential travel items.
Key Benefits of the Project:
- Enabled 20 learners to participate fully in international work placements in Thailand and Bali.
- Reduced financial barriers for learners from disadvantaged backgrounds, including those from low-income households, SEND learners, young carers and looked-after children.
- Increased learners’ confidence, independence and resilience through international travel and workplace experiences.
- Enhanced employability skills through exposure to real-world working environments and different cultural contexts.
- Supported the development of communication, teamwork and problem-solving skills.
- Improved learners’ understanding of global industries and international working practices.
- Created a reusable resource bank of travel equipment to support future cohorts of learners.
- Strengthened social mobility by making life-changing opportunities accessible to learners who may otherwise have been unable to participate.
This funding has helped remove financial barriers that might otherwise have prevented learners from accessing life-changing international opportunities. The skills, confidence and experiences gained through these placements will benefit learners long into the future, while the reusable travel resources created through the project will continue to support future cohorts.