US STUDENTS
VALUE INTERNSHIPS

A survey of US students by career publisher, Vault, shows that 40 per cent had undertaken an internship overseas and the majority of all respondents felt that international internships were “crucial for future career success”.

The survey, the first conducted by the company that focusses solely on international internships, collated responses from 339 college students across the USA. Questions included why students chose to complete an international internship and found that 60 per cent wanted to experience a new culture, seven per cent wanted to learn a new language and 33 per cent had an interest in moving to a foreign country after graduation.

The study also found that networking was the most popular method used by students to find their internship placement overseas, used by 46 per cent of respondents. Meanwhile, fee-based services were used by just three per cent of respondents, while career college centres were used by 21 per cent of students.

Destinations chosen by US interns were very varied, according to the study, with the most popular being China (chosen by 15 per cent of respondents), India (chosen by 10 per cent) and the UK (chosen by eight per cent). However, students had undertaken an internship programme in 27 different destinations overall.

ONLINE COMMUNITY FOR GLOBAL TRAVELLERS

An online community, designed to keep travellers in touch with family and friends, and also provide agents and universities with a forum to offer advice and opportunities to students, has been launched by GoAbroad.com, a web-based provider of international education and alternative travel directories.

Universities, study abroad offices and travel agents can become online advisers on the site, creating groups where they can post alerts and send email broadcasts to their travelling clients. Providers of international education and work and travel placements can also access CVs posted by students and inform them of opportunities overseas.

Troy Preden, Founder of GoAbroad.com, said, “There is no site like this and there are many more cool features which will roll out in the coming weeks. We want to see travellers use the tools and features on the network so that their friends back home can travel with them through their stories and photos.”

Global Vision International (GVI), an international volunteer opportunities provider, has announced a number of new volunteering projects across Europe. The company currently has volunteering projects available in 30 countries worldwide, but the European projects are the first for them in this particular world region.

The new projects include researching monk seals in Turkey, turtle conservation on the Greek island of Zakynthos, working with bearded vultures in Spain and looking after children in an orphanage in Latvia.

Tabitha Symonds, GVI’s UK Director, said, “The new European projects will facilitate real cultural integration. Wildlife projects are intertwined with learning local language and working in local communities and there is ample opportunity to learn about local history.”

Symonds also added that the new European projects were aimed at travellers in the UK with less time to spare and who were concerned about their carbon footprint.

STA reports volunteers increase
STA Travel has reported an 18 per cent increase in sales for volunteering holidays over the last 12 months, prompting the company to introduce new volunteering expeditions to meet demand.

The five new volunteer projects include teaching children in Brazil to surf, riding horses in the Dominican Republic, coaching children cricket in Sri Lanka, taking part in a reforestation project in Peru and working with orangutans in Borneo.

Workshop for interns
US-based international internship provider, Global Experiences, has teamed up with HowToItaly, an Italian career specialist, to offer a one-day workshop for interns based in Florence. The workshop will give interns an understanding of Italian business culture and general life as an American living in Italy.