A group of students from Middlesbrough College are heading to the Indonesian island of Bali for a two-week study trip of a lifetime.
A total of 26 students on the NCFE Level 3 Travel & Tourism, City & Guilds Level 3 Beauty Therapy and City & Guilds VRQ Level 3 Hair and Media Makeup are travelling over 7,700 miles from Teesside to Bali in a visit funded with the help of the Government’s Turing Scheme.
During their fortnight on the island, the students will visit a range of different locations in Bali and learn about its approach to sustainable tourism, traditional hair and beauty techniques, and how the island is marketing itself to the health and wellbeing sector.
There will also be trips to locations including a coffee plantation and a traditional Balinese village as well as classes in mask painting and batik.
Kath Hawking, Head of Work Experience and Placements at Middlesbrough College said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for our students, a number of whom have not travelled outside of the UK before.
“Being able to learn about and absorb a different culture and seeing how people in Bali tackle challenges and opportunities in the travel and tourism sector and the hair and beauty industry will be invaluable for those going on the trip and I’m sure it will make a real difference to what they are learning in their studies.”
Beauty student Amelia Pallister, 17, from Middlesbrough, said: “I’m really excited as I have never left the UK before so this is an amazing opportunity for me.
“It will give me an insight into the Balinese culture and their beauty standards and techniques so that I can relate this back to my college course and I could help my peers and feedback my work experience.”
Travel student Atlanta Malcolm, 17, Peterlee said “I’m super excited to be traveling to Bali because I can’t wait to experience the rich culture and take part in experiencing the local traditions and have the understanding of what it is like to live in a true Balinese village.
“I’m also excited to further my education on the trip and participate in my travel and aviation related project which will help me understand more about what the subject looks like to people in Bali. I will also have the chance to share my ideas and make an impact through my knowledge during the time I am there.”
Phoebe Douglas, 17, from Middlesbrough, who is studying Hair and Media Makeup, said: “This trip will be important for my studies as I will get to learn a different side to the industry and culture of Bali compared to the UK makeup industry.
“I will also get to learn how they do make-up and hair and the different ways they apply it and different techniques, which will really help my career as it will gain me more knowledge in cultural makeup and hair.”
The study trip has been put together by overseas volunteer projects, internships and student placements specialist Think Pacific, and the College has been able to support a large proportion of students with additional funding to help them access these amazing opportunities.
The Turing Scheme, which is funding the study trip, offers grant funding to education providers to support their students or apprentices to pursue study and work placements around the world.
Zoe Lewis, principal and CEO of Middlesbrough College Group, said: “Our mission at the college is to help our students achieve their aspirations and take their futures to wherever they want to go.
“This study visit is a great example of those values in action and in opening up a world opportunities to young people from our region.”
