French and Welsh students posing

Students from Wales and France came together through a shared love of music at St David’s College last month, as part of an international exchange.

We welcomed 28 students and two members of staff from Lycée Anita Conti in Bruz, Brittany, for a two-day visit focused on collaboration and performance.

students waving

Building international connections

The trip, supported by Welsh Colleges and international partners in France, was the first time the group had visited Cardiff as part of a growing international exchange programme.

The visit took careful planning and close collaboration, reflecting the College’s commitment to international links and cultural exchange. It also gave students the chance to broaden their horizons and experience something new.

What students experienced

During their visit, the College paired the French students with St David’s learners through the International Buddy Group.

Alongside attending lessons, they took part in social and cultural activities outside the classroom. This helped them get a real sense of life at St David’s, while also giving students the opportunity to learn more about each other’s backgrounds.

French students singing

A musical exchange

The trip ended on a high with a performance in the theatre.

The French students sang a mix of songs in French and English, from The Beatles to pieces many of our students hadn’t heard before. Some of our musicians joined in to accompany them, and the performance ended with a shared singalong.

St David’s students then took to the stage, performing numbers from their recent FAME production and putting on an excellent show as part of the exchange.

phone filming student performance

What’s next

Overall, the visit was a real success and reflects the College’s ongoing focus on international exchange and creating meaningful cultural experiences for students.

With these links continuing to develop, we look forward to welcoming more groups in the future and giving more students the chance to connect, learn and take part in experiences like this.

Students taking a photo