SINGAPORE – Excursions abroad may spell an escape from repetitive classroom routines, but such opportunities, which have evolved with time, hold more educational significance, especially in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Mr Lazzerine believes this generation of students understands concepts better with the experiential activities that come with travel.March, students tried their hand at making fabric from natural materials with locals, which allowed them to appreciate how environmental sustainability is woven into local tourism.
On a school trip to Medan in Indonesia in March, Republic Polytechnic students tried making fabric from natural materials with the help of locals. PHOTO: REPUBLIC POLYTECHNIC Ms Leong says: “Post-pandemic, many educators seek to re-establish their connections with foreign counterparts. Also, in the light of the incidents that have taken place in the past years, teachers are going overseas to familiarise themselves with the destination and do comprehensive risk assessments.”Gen Zers do not want to just study overseas, but also work and live abroad
To a smaller extent, the company also organises overseas trips for community service, cultural immersion, leadership training and outdoor adventure. As at June, it has arranged roughly 30 overseas school trips this year, about half of the 70 to 80 trips in 2019.South-east Asia, China and Taiwan. He says the choice of destination is usually a function of budget, as schools are able to accommodate more students when travelling within the region.
In October 2023, more than half a year before the planned trip, Prof Yam, who is the head of the department of management and organisation, began laying the groundwork for a study tour to Kyoto for a group of 15 students, which allowed them to accrue academic credits for their degree. Prof Yam says: “As educators, coordinating a school trip can be difficult as it is not our primary job. But going the extra mile to make such opportunities possible is something I feel teachers should think about more often.”Community service trips, also known as service-learning projects, are meant to cultivate a sense of responsibility and greater empathy in students.