the Importance of International Travel to the Student experience

Kingston University is committed to an inclusive curriculum where all students see themselves reflected in what they are taught. The Kingston2CapeTown Scholarship contributes to making that commitment a reality. International travel is an important part of the Student Experience and evidence suggests it increases student attainment and improves the overall student experience. Research also suggests that Black and Minority Ethnic students are under represented in groups of students who undertake international travel. This trend is replicated among Black and Ethnic Minority students at Kingston with fewer of them taking up opportunities of International travel as part of schemes such as Study Abroad.

Kingston2capetown pilot 2016-17

The Kingston2CapeTown Scholarship was piloted this year with a group of five Black and Minority Ethnic Students from across the University who after a competitive application, interview and selection process were given the opportunity to travel to Cape Town. It was a ten day trip with the intention of:

• enhancing students global awareness of economic and political structures

• helping them to apply knowledge gained during their first year undergraduate degree to the South African context

Students engaged in a range of activities including:

• learning about local community initiatives
• sharing experiences with current Cape Town University students about political activism and inequalities in the education system
• visiting local schools
• experiencing Township life
• visiting cultural archive facilities

These experiences helped students recognise their potential to contribute to the changing international context. In addition to this the experience has moved students beyond formal lecture room settings and encouraged them to apply the knowledge gained during their first year undergraduate degree programme to real-life situations in South Africa. In many ways the impact of the experience on the students went beyond the expectations and objectives of the project.

But, don't just take our word for it, listen to what students themselves had to say via this link .

what we learned..

The Kingston2CapeTown pilot has taught us so many things including the difference travel makes to participant's confidence, world view and a sense of what they can contribute to communities of which they are part and reflecting on their place in a global world. More than anything the opportunities enabled them to practice the critical thinking skills needed to flourish in a changing world.

what next?

Our aim is to raise £10,000 to enable ten second year BME undergraduate students across the University to be offered a scholarship to participate in this unique international initiative.

who are the Kingston2capetown project team?

The Kingston2CapeTown project has been driven by the Diversity and Inclusion Unit who played a key role in encouraging and bringing together like minded individuals committed to finding new ways of engaging and inspiring BME students.  We are a multi disciplinary team made up of academics, students and Student Union representatives committed to diversity and inclusivity in the curriculum.

All of your donations are important as they will contribute to improving BME students experiences by:

• Giving them the opportunity to travel internationally
• Assisting them to apply academic learning skills to real life settings
• Helping them develop self confidence and awareness of global issues

How will the money be used?

• £10,000 is needed to fund the travel and accommodation costs for ten students
• Any extra funds raised will be used to plan, organise and a deliver a one day conference to share experiences with supporters and to offer more scholarships

Help us empower black and minority ethnic students!

• The Kingston2CapeTown scholarship needs your help. Think back to when you were a student and the experiences or people that influenced and shaped your life course, or changed your perceptions of things. These experiences were not always in formal settings  but in the day to day engagement in the lives of people at grassroots levels.
• Listen to ways in which Kingston2CapeTown benefitted students who participated in 2016-17
• Read about their experiences: Student reflection on South Africa 2016-17
• The scholarship helps BME students to recognise their potential or as one participant put it ' the experience taught me the importance of being an active student and making a difference in society '.
• Help us take learning out of the classroom and provide new and creative opportunities for learning for BME students that can be bought back and shared across the University.
• There are a number of ways you can help us.  If you can't support us by giving financially please  share the #Kingston2CapeTown Scholarship Project with anyone you think would support us – on Twitter @CrimKingston, @KingstonSoc. Facebook, LinkedIn, by email, telephone, in a chat over coffee or on your blog.
• In fact, share it with everyone you know as we think  this Scholarship initiative makes a real difference to those involved and the more people who know about it, the more likely we are to make this work.
• And we know we said you don't need to give money to help us, but we'd love it if you did! Listen to why .
• Please sponsor us and help make #Kingston2CapeTown happen.