FOR than 40 Brazilian students south Warwickshire is the educational destination.
The students are set to arrive over the next month to continue their vocational education.
College group WCG is hosting a total of 46 young people from Paraiba – a state in the north east of Brazil – and will be supporting the students to develop their English language ability and skills in agriculture, business, computing, engineering and E sports as part of the initiative.
The Connect the World programme is funded by the government of Paraiba and aims to encourage the internationalisation of the states and the growth of its prosperity through international exchange initiatives for students and staff from state schools.
For many of the students, the trip to south Warwickshire is set to be their first experience abroad and they have undergone a highly competitive selection process in order to win their place on the programme.
Students will be studying at Moreton Morrell College, Leamington College and Warwick Trident College during their time in the region, with the initial 15 students having already arrived and settled in for an eight week stay.
The students have already begun their English classes and will be living with families around Warwick, Leamington and Kenilworth during their stay.
Learning programmes are being adapted based on the needs and interests of each student, ensuring the Level 3 courses being delivered are challenging enough for the highly-academic Brazilian students.
Students will also be provided with work experience opportunities during their stay, to help gain practical experience and exposure to UK industry.
The programme signals the next step in the continued expansion of WCG’s international portfolio.
It will culminate in an awards evening in March where the students and their chaperones will be invited to celebrate their time studying with WCG.
Ben Fairhurst, Head of FE Quality and International Programmes at WCG, said: “We’re proud to have partnered with the Paraiba government on this programme.
“This is one of a number of initiatives that has been introduced by the government to support further investment and development into Paraiba.
“For many of the students it will be their first time away from home, so we want to make it as comfortable, fun, educational and thought-provoking as possible.
“We will be introducing the students to our courses in a range of areas and also giving them a chance to see Warwickshire too, with trips planned to Warwick Castle, Stratford and more locations across the county.
“The programme is a great opportunity for the college group to enhance its international reputation and hopefully will lead to further international exchange programmes partnering with WCG in the future.”
