Blurring boundaries; the world is your playground
What does an experience abroad provide? What about costs and financing? And what are the possibilities for an international career through an internship or (volunteer) work during a gap year? These are all questions that the young target group would like answers to. And Joëlle, who was present at the fair on behalf of travel agency TUI, also noticed this.
"I get a lot of questions about what exactly we offer. Then I tell them that we are looking for colleagues who want to work abroad. We are looking for different profiles, such as tour guides, entertainers, fitness instructors and swimming and soccer coaches. A lot is possible with us."
Not only Joelle was there to inform the visitors about what they have to offer. Young people could easily connect with more than 140 (educational) institutions from around the world at the fair, such as EF Education First, Cultural Care Au Pair and Snowminds.
Tom, now in his gap year, attends The Go-Abroad Fair with a clear mission: to find something concrete that he can do outside of our land borders during his gap year. "Here I can find many different organizations, presentations and information that can help me further," he said.
Visitor Nova hesitated to attend the fair earlier in the day, but because of its easy accessibility and free ticket, she went to visit. "I am really positively surprised by the offerings. I didn't expect that there would be so much to see and information to retrieve. I'm glad I came!"
In conversation with experienced travelers
At The Go-Abroad Fair it is easy to get into conversation with experienced students who have already gone on a foreign adventure. This was experienced as very pleasant by visitors, because in the end a real experience expert can tell best what a study, internship or other adventure abroad feels like.
Carmen and Lorenzo are experts by experience. During their presentation, they shared their insights on how to combine traveling and working online. "Combining travel and work is not for everyone, but I think everyone here at the fair shares the same passion: getting that full abroad experience. Whether you are in a gap year or maybe even already finished your studies; you can always start earning money combined with traveling."
Through Carmen and Lorenzo's presentation,the more than 50 other presentations and more than 140 booths, the large number of travel-loving visitors got the information and practical tools to make their dream come true.
100+ universities from abroad
Many visitors do not yet know exactly what they want to do abroad and are still in the orientation phase. The choice is vast, and that doesn't necessarily make choosing easier. The personal map tool, which allowed visitors to search for the most suitable universities and other organizations based on countries or interests, therefore came in handy.
Want to go abroad, but not too far away. Representatives of universities for example in Belgium, France, Germany, the United Kingdom or Denmark, enthused visitors for two days to make the move.
Similarly, Yulia, a representative from University of Southern Denmark, is bubbling with energy. "It's great to engage with the young target group and their parents. They are really looking forward to studying abroad and are asking specific questions. The most popular question: do you provide accommodations for the students. Yes, we do! I am already looking forward to seeing them next year in Denmark.”
At The Go-Abroad Fair nothing is too crazy, and so for the adventurer who dares to go a little further, the fair also offers plenty of opportunities.For example Canada, Indonesia, USA, Australia and even China? Educational institutions from these countries were present in large numbers!
Ready for next year
We look back on another fantastic edition of The Go-Abroad Fair. With fresh energy, we are therefore looking forward to next year. The Go-Abroad Fair returns on November 29 and 30, 2024, in the Jaarbeurs Utrecht. Are you chasing a dream abroad? Be sure to mark these dates in your calendar. Hopefully we will see you then!