The pioneering #DMUglobal scheme, which offers international experiences for De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) students, has hit an incredible milestone with the number of participants breaking through the 10,000 mark.
Hundreds of DMU students travelled to Berlin last year
#DMUglobal was launched by the Vice-Chancellor Professor Dominic Shellard in 2014 so that students could enrich their studies, broaden cultural horizons and develop key skills valued by employers.
It came as a response to the Government at the time which had called on UK universities to send more students overseas as part of their studies.
As the team prepares to take more than 200 students to Berlin next week for academic and volunteering experiences around the German capital, it has been revealed that among them is the 10,000th #DMUglobal participant.
In the last four years #DMUglobal has taken these 10,000-plus students to more than 60 nations worldwide, covering the continents of Europe, Asia, Africa, and North and South America.
Students joining in at New York Pride on a #DMUglobal trip
The student experiences have involved everything from building libraries in the Gambia to leading discussions for peace and social justice at the United Nations in New York.
Thousands have also taken part in programmes on campus with the aim of raising cultural awareness and improving language skills. All #DMUglobal trips are subsidised to ensure they are available to all.
Leo Smith, Head of #DMUglobal, said: “We passionately believe in offering our students incredible experiences while they study at DMU. What better way to do this than to see them travel overseas to meet new people, learn about different cultures and use their new-found knowledge to enhance their studies back at DMU.
“It is really rewarding for me and the #DMUglobal team to know that the experiences we offer will help students stand out in a very competitive global jobs market.”
Close to 200 people on a variety of courses have signed up to the latest epic visit to Berlin organised through #DMUglobal.
The trip will see four groups of students flown from the UK out across Europe, heading respectively to Brussels, Amsterdam, Paris and Berlin.
In each of the cities, students will experience hands-on opportunities with groups or communities supporting refugees and other disadvantaged people.
The #DMUglobal trip to Hong Kong in March this year
Then all students will meet in Berlin to take part in a DMU event focused around the concept of global citizenship and the role young people have in shaping the future of Europe.
Students will share what they have learnt from their visits and through group sessions, speed lectures, and panel discussions, develop ideas for projects and work which could be developed back in Leicester.
In Paris, the Utopia56 group has invited students to its headquarters, giving them insights into how it supports the city’s homeless refugees.
In Brussels, Serve the City operates out of the Haren Centre, providing shelter and food to the city’s most vulnerable. Students will be helping to provide food and meet some of the people the group supports.
And in Amsterdam, students will visit Amsterdam University College to hear from and talk with the Mission: Right2Education group, which offers English and Dutch language classes to refugees throughout the city.
#DMUglobal aims to be the most comprehensive international experience programme available at any UK university.
In June 2016, #DMUglobal won the Outstanding International Strategy category at The Times Higher Education Leadership and Management Awards (THELMAs).
Posted on Friday 7 September 2018