Examples of Student Mobility

Published 15/11/2017

We believe student global mobility is widely beneficial for students studying any subject.

It doesn’t matter if you’re an aspiring sports scientist, a lawyer, or anything in between, gaining work, travel or volunteering experience overseas is a fantastic way for students to gain tangible skills for their career and personal development.

To learn more about student mobility and our role in helping support it, read more about our recent blog post explaining everything you need to know to get started.

A big reason we believe so strongly in overseas experiences is the fact we’ve seen first hand the opportunities and development our volunteers and past team members have gained through outward mobility and international travel.

We could have listed out hundreds of examples, but we thought we’d share a couple of case studies that illustrate just what kind of impact student mobility can have. It also opens up the conversation about the type of experiences students participate in overseas and how volunteering and other activities can often trump traditional internships and office experience.

Student Mobility Case Study: Callum Drummond

The video below explains how Callum’s experience in Fiji helped give him so many incredible experiences. After Callum’s outward mobility to Fiji, he went on to set-up a social enterprise called Bula Batiki.

Callum returned year after year to Fiji and his continued passion combined with his entrepreneurial spirit led to the launch of an immense and ethical concept. His product ‘Bula Batiki’ is helping villagers to improve their standard of living and create a sustainable income for remote villagers.

This kind of amazing business that offers meaningful benefits for Fijians as well as a great consumer product is a result of outward mobility and Callum’s experience in Fiji.

Imagine a world where more graduates were approaching business in this way? Supporting student mobility can be a great way to help give a platform for UK citizens to have a global impact.

Student Mobility Case Study: Danny Threapleton

Danny is another past volunteer who has wholeheartedly embraced global mobility. He now lives and works in Fiji and demonstrates the far reaching impact overseas volunteering and studying can provide.

The video below explains Danny’s story and how a volunteering expedition ended up being so influential on his personal and career development.

(Danny’s story is particularly motivating for anyone studying a sports degree and wondering what opportunities are out there related to their interests).

Student Mobility Case Study: Rob Turp

Rob volunteered after university with Think Pacific back in 2012. From struggling to find a job after university, to landing a job within weeks of returning from Fiji, the skills and experiences from his time overseas helped him demonstrate core competencies which he believes were vital in securing a job offer.

3 years later and Rob set up his own marketing automation agency in Leeds which works with some of the top local businesses.

It’s hard to imagine what life would be like if I hadn’t volunteered overseas. It provided me with so much personal development and gave me leverage to stand out in interviews and assessment centres. It’s also now something we look for when looking at CVs and candidates as it demonstrates someone who can overcome real-world challenges in a practical way. No-one ever regrets going travelling or embarking on any kind of overseas volunteering. The benefits are paramount and I’d encourage every student to get involved. 

Rob, Bula Marketer

More Examples of Student Mobility

If you’d like to learn more about how our past volunteers and leaders have benefited from overseas mobility, then check out our some of our blog posts that share all their stories.

If you’ve got any questions about Think Pacific and how you can benefit from joining one of our expeditions, simply download our brochure to get started, or contact us today.

 

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