A place in the sun

Learning how to manage finances, speak a foreign language, and cope with tourists, while gaining valuable work experience were all part of the fun of a 12-week work placement that 18-year-old Kerry Cawthray took in Greece.

Cawthray completed an advanced GNVQ in travel and tourism at Leeds' Park Lane College and went to work as a waitress at the Creta Maris hotel in Crete, between April and June this year. "I have grown up and learnt to depend on myself as a result of the trip," she says.

She spoke mainly Greek, despite the predominance of Germans at the hotel. Attending a week-long intensive Greek-language course prior to leaving the UK helped her cope.

For the past five years the Leeds college has been sending hospitality students to experience another way of life through work placements all over Europe. Last year, about 30 students completing a two-year advanced GNVQ course (A-level equivalent) were sent out for three to 12 weeks. Crete joined the college's growing list of placements two years ago. Other countries involved include Denmark, Belgium, Italy, Ireland and France.

"The initial idea was to make students a bit more European and aware of other cultures," explains Jonathan Smith, programme manager for the advanced GNVQ in leisure and tourism at the college. "It's an international industry. It's important to sample different ways of living. If they stayed in England, they would be too close to home."

The placements are funded through the European Union's Leonardo da Vinci programme, which provides about £2,000 per student. This pays for the students' pre-departure intensive language courses, air fares, accommodation if necessary, and some spending money.

As a requirement for the European Union funding, students must provide on their return a detailed report on their stay and the differences in culture they experienced.

Students are encouraged to do some sightseeing, but Cawthray found her funding did not stretch to this.

Those on Greek placements are paid the same as their local counterparts but this situation does not necessarily apply in other countries. In many participating nations, students have to rely solely on their European funding so budgeting is an important part of the trip.

Every student doing a 12-week placement gets a £2,000 grant but less for shorter stays, with the minimum stay set at three weeks.

Job options

In addition to Cawthray, two other students also went to Crete. One was Caroline Wales, who spent 12 weeks at the Silva Maris Hotel. Most of her time was spent waitressing and doing bar work, for which she was paid about 80p an hour, the same as a Greek student.

She says the experience gained by working in another country as well as coping with a different culture and language will prove valuable, even though it was a tough challenge. "Dealing with foreign currency was difficult at first but I got used to it," she says.

Wales believes the experience will definitely help her to find a job. "It shows how independent you are. It also shows how patient you can be - people don't understand you and you don't understand them," she says.

Waitressing is one option, but students can work in bars or travel agencies or as animateurs (entertainers). Students' preferences for the type of work they do can usually be accommodated, depending on the places the college has established links with.

For example, the current trend in holiday resorts to offer as many facilities as possible on site means that the role of animateurs has developed. They are now expected to take care of children, be trained in first aid and put on shows. In response to this, Park Lane College has devised an animateur option within the advanced GNVQ. Extra European funding has been allocated for students to train in this area.

Maris Hotels became involved in the programme two years ago when Maggie Dollin-Evans, the college's senior programme manager, stayed at the Creta Maris. She was impressed by service at the hotel and asked if it would accept students on placements.

Since then, five Park Lane College students have spent time working with the hotel group.

Evangelos Papadopoulos, Maris Hotels' purchasing director, helped in establishing the link with the college. He believes the students benefit from working in the holiday-type resort, which he feels is harder than the kind of experience students gain in the UK.

Different cultures

Compared with placements in Greece, where students have to cope with a foreign language and culture, one might think that three weeks in Skibbereen, Republic of Ireland, would be easy. Ironically, students sent there have found adapting especially difficult. They think Ireland is the same as England and soon get a shock. They have to get used to the pace of life in a quiet town.

"After two weeks, they are screaming to come home. After three, they want to stay longer," says Smith.

In addition to benefiting the students, the placements also increase the course's profile in the rest of Europe. Park Lane College is trying to get its course recognised in the rest of Europe.

Experience gained seems to help in job-finding, too. Of last year's 40 students, all have either secured positions or have gone on to higher education. "It makes them well equipped for today's job market," Smith confirms.