Bath Spa University and international volunteering charity Project Trust have formed a partnership to provide work experience opportunities for students from the university’s School of Education.
Project Trust has more than 50 years’ experience in providing ethical, international volunteering placements for young people.
Earlier this year it helped BA (Hons) Education Studies student Jasmine Raymond-Barker complete a virtual placement for her second-year module ‘Professional Practice in Schools’.
Jasmine engaged online for nine weeks with two long-term Project Trust volunteers in Ghana, comparing and contrasting the UK and Ghanaian educational systems.
She described her experience as ‘enriching and eye-opening’ and commented on how the virtual arrangement presented an opportunity that would not otherwise have been available to her.
Reflecting on her experience, Jasmine said that her degree had prepared her really well to understand education across unique contexts.
Following in Jasmine’s footsteps, two Bath Spa second-year BA Education Studies students recently took part in summer placements in Ghana.
Michelle Xue and Bethany Bales worked with students and teachers at Agorveme MA Basic School, joining Project Trust volunteers who arrived last November.
Bath Spa programme leader in education and childhood studies Jenny Hatley said: “We are delighted to have partnered with Project Trust.
“Using their expertise they have matched our students with placements in Ghana and I am confident that this experience will prove to be invaluable for all involved.
“Through this partnership our students have been able to use the knowledge they have developed in their degrees, to support volunteers and local students with their education.
“We look forward to nurturing and expanding this partnership to offer more students a global outlook on education.”
Project Trust CEO Ingrid Emerson MBE added: “We are thrilled about this innovative partnership with Bath Spa University. Since extending our age range up to 25 in 2019 we have had some exceptional student and graduate volunteers represent us all over the world.
“We strive to offer Project Trust opportunities to anyone who has the desire, motivation and aptitude to realise their potential.
“We are delighted that our virtual offering has meant that those who aren't able to undertake an international placement can still gain a global perspective on education.
“We look forward to continuing our work with Bath Spa University in the coming academic year.”
Based in The Hebrides, Project Trust is an innovative youth development and education charity providing long-term overseas volunteering placements for 17 to 25 year olds.
Bath Spa is one of the UK’s leading creative universities. It offers a wide range of courses across the arts, sciences, education, social science and business to 7,000-plus students.
