The UK’s largest network for students who study or work abroad, ThirdYearAbroad.com has partnered with the the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) and Routes in Languages to launch TYA Answers– a Q&A site where students can get responses and information from fellow students, experts and university international officers.
The company also aims to connect UK graduates with language skills to employment opportunities through its site GlobalGraduates.co.uk set to launch this September.
ThirdYearAbroad.com founder Lizzie Fane said the new Q&A site aims to streamline study abroad information into one, reliable place on the internet.
“Finally there is a place where employers can advertise for native English speakers who can operate on the global stage”
“There are existing forums where students discuss their year abroad, like conversations on the Student Room, Twitter and Facebook, but that’s why we started TYA Answers– to bring all those discussions under one roof for maximum efficiency and expertise,” she said.
Prospective students can connect with parents, members of staff and study abroad stakeholders like the British Council, Universities UK and the Student Loans Company, to receive advice on topics including accommodation, culture shock and languages.
ThirdYearAbroad.com partner universities can also see the number of students using the site and the questions they are asking, allowing them to adapt information seminars and events accordingly.
ThirdYearAbroad.com has also recently become a strategic partner of Routes into Languages, a HEFCE-backed campaign to promote languages and the year abroad.
The GlobalGraduates.co.uk initiative aims to help students turn the language and soft skills they learn into employment.
“Having helped students make the most of their year abroad, we want to help them start amazing careers which use their linguistic and intercultural abilities,” commented Fane. “Finally there is a place where employers can advertise for native English speakers who can operate on the global stage.”
The site will feature graduate roles, Erasmus+ work placements, summer jobs, internships abroad, volunteering opportunities, au pairing and teaching jobs from global companies.
Founded in 2010, ThirdYearAbroad.com targets students aged 16-24 considering, undertaking or returning from a year abroad and receives some 50,000 unique hits a month.
