As interest in study abroad continues to rise in the USA, a well known edu-travel provider has launched a suite of study abroad programmes for college-age students to “highly desired, offbeat destinations” in three continents.
People to People Ambassador Programs says its new itineraries are focused on “volunteerism and service, cultural immersion and adventure”, and are designed to improve career readiness by improving global awareness. Students who traveled on the inaugural programme to India in December 2012 were said to have visited iconic monuments such as the Taj Mahal while assisting in development projects.
The itineraries will include Vietnam and Cambodia, Japan, India, and even Antarctica
“The peak moment of the programme was the two-day service immersion opportunity in Rajasthan where students explored the homes and lives of Rajasthani villagers and worked to restore school facilities while staying in a beautiful tented encampment,” Siena Bendixen-Park, College Program Manager for People to People, said.
The itineraries last 12-15 days, are run in either summer or winter, and will include Vietnam and Cambodia, Japan, India, and even Antarctica in 2013 and 2014. Participants have the opportunity to earn credit from Eastern Washington University.
The company, which is the educational travel provider of People to People International – a nonprofit founded in 1956 by President Dwight Eisenhower to promote cultural exchange – claims 500,000 year 5-12 students have used its programmes since the 1960s. It said the new programmes were its first step into college-age provision.
“We have seen heightened interest from students and parents in the past couple of years to extend our product line into the university domain to continue that experiential learning track,” said Peg Thomas, president of the company.
Despite traditionally low rates of study abroad in the US, a recent British Council study found that 56% of American’s were now considering the idea, with the desire to “have a unique adventure” a key driver. The global youth travel industry is also set to double by 2020 according research organisation StudentMarketing, with the trend driven by educational and experiential offers.
