Finding international partners and developing effective working relationships with them is essential for any education or training provider wishing to run successful Turing Scheme and Erasmus+ study and work placements. To help you take the first steps towards finding and establishing those connections around the globe, we have come up with five top tips.
1. Contact Your Local Council About Twinned Towns and Cities
Many towns and cities across the United Kingdom are twinned with towns around Europe and the world. Get in touch with your local council and explain what your aims are and the connections you are looking to establish, you will likely find that staff there will be more than willing to support and help you.
2. Utilise Local University Expertise
Perhaps you already have links with your local university? If so, why not approach its international office and ask what approach the university takes when establishing and maintaining links with organisations abroad? You may even find that the university itself has links with schools and colleges overseas, or that its partners have similar links in place in their own countries, all of which could open doors for introductions to good potential international partners.
3. Contact Cultural Organisations and Embassies
A wide range of cultural organisations exist, both in the UK and around the world, who have an interest in education and fostering international collaborations within the sector. Contacting any of these and explaining your needs may be another fruitful way to gain introductions.
4. Leverage Existing Relationships
It may well be the case, (especially in large multi-academy trusts and multi-site colleges, for instance), that certain staff or departments already have international contacts that could be leveraged to facilitate an international partner.
It is always worth putting out feelers within your institution to see if that is the case and, if so, ascertaining whether those relationships can be expanded to include potential Turing Scheme activities.
5. Do Your Own Research
We are, of course, living in the age of the world wide web and by using a few carefully chosen words, phrases or hashtags to scour the internet and social media there’s every chance that you will find several likely partners. There’s nothing to lose in sending a speculative email to any organisation you think may be a good partner.
For any further guidance, don’t hesitate to contact the helpful team at TravelEdventures by clicking here.
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