Students experience life changing opportunity in Sri Lanka

Fifteen Barnsley College students recently took part in a fully funded international trip to Sri Lanka, giving them the opportunity to develop new skills, experience a different culture and make a real difference to local communities.

Barnsley College continues to offer life‑changing international opportunities for our students and our recent Students’ Union Excellence Opportunity trip to Sri Lanka is a perfect example of what’s possible. The trip brought together students from across the College including Sixth Form, Health and Social Care, Public Services, Engineering, Sport, Travel and Tourism, Animal Management and Creative Industries.

The two-week experience was fully funded, meaning students paid nothing for flights, accommodation, food, travel or excursions.

The trip was made possible through joint support from the Department for Education funded Turing Scheme and the Barnsley College Students’ Union, ensuring that cost was not a barrier and that talented, hardworking students could access the opportunity.

Interest in the experience was extremely high, with more than 300 students applying. After a competitive selection process, 15 students were shortlisted and offered a place.

During the first week of the trip, students volunteered at a local Sri Lankan school, supporting pupils with learning English and Maths. They also took part in the school’s Independence Day celebrations, learning more about local traditions and culture.

Students helped improve the school environment by painting walls that had been damaged during recent cyclone. They also donated rucksacks, pens, pencils, books and jewellery to the school community.

At the weekend, the group explored some of Sri Lanka’s most famous locations including Kandy, Galle and Colombo. Activities included visiting a wood carving factory, learning traditional mask painting, taking part in a Sri Lankan cooking lesson, visiting a tea factory and gem museum, watching a traditional dance performance, enjoying a river safari and even trying a dance lesson.

In the second week, students volunteered at two turtle conservation centres: Galbokka Sea Turtle Conservation and Research Centre and Kosgoda Turtle Care Centre. During their time there, they supported the centres by cleaning tanks, feeding and caring for turtles, painting murals on the tanks and helping to release baby turtles into the sea at sunset.

Sasha Swift, Learner Voice Advisor at Barnsley College Students’ Union, said: “Barnsley College have some of the most dedicated, talented and hardworking students in the country. I believe that our students should have access to life changing trips and visits to broaden their perspective of the world.

“It has been inspiring to watch our students grow and develop during our two-week trip to Sri Lanka. We wanted our students to give back to the Sri Lankan community and embrace the culture, so we planned our trip itinerary to include working in a local Sri Lankan school and to volunteer at a Turtle Sanctuary.

“This trip has given our student unmeasurable amounts of experiences and memories to last a lifetime. It is important that we continue to create opportunities for our students to see the world and learn about different cultures.”

Level 3 Public Services student, Nieve Harkwick, said: “The trip was an unforgettable experience. It gave me the chance to step outside my comfort zone, meet amazing people and create memories I’ll always value.”

Level 3 Health and Social Care student, Kayleigh Hendy, added: “We are incredibly lucky to have travelled to Sri Lanka completely funded. It's an experience I would not have had if it weren't for Barnsley College and the Student Union. I will forever be grateful for getting the opportunity to explore the beautiful country of Sri Lanka, experience their vibrant culture and to contribute to their community.”

Annie Litmanen, International Manager at Barnsley College Students’ Union highlighted the long-term value of international experiences for students, stating: “Our recent student trip to Sri Lanka was a powerful reminder of just how much international experiences can transform young people. Watching our students grow in confidence, adapt to completely new environments, and embrace different cultures was amazing.

“They returned more self-confident, globally aware and ready to take on new challenges. International experiences are becoming such an important part of education and Barnsley College Students’ Union is working hard to secure further Turing Scheme funding for next year so that we can continue offering these life‑changing opportunities.

“With the UK set to re‑join Erasmus+ in 2027, our College will also have fantastic new opportunities to strengthen our international and European partnerships in the years ahead. Even without these schemes, international learning will continue to grow across our curriculum because the world our students are entering including here in Barnsley, is becoming more international and culturally diverse.

“To thrive, students need strong cultural awareness, global communication skills and the confidence to engage with people from different backgrounds. Opportunities like these help them build those skills, boost their employability and broaden their outlook in ways that stay with them for life. I am committed to working hard so that our students can keep accessing opportunities like this, now and in the years to come.”

Barnsley College are committed to creating opportunities that allow students to broaden their horizons, gain valuable life experience and develop the confidence and skills needed for their future careers.