Last month, St David’s College opened our doors to students from Peru and Japan through our partnership with Celtic International Language School in Cardiff, as part of our ongoing international student exchange work.
St David’s College recently welcomed 15 students and two teachers from Colegio Buen Consejo in Lima, Peru, for a month-long cultural exchange programme.
We also welcomed students and staff from Nori Kevers School in Osaka for a three-day visit, marking the second international student exchange as part of this growing partnership and giving visitors the opportunity to study in Cardiff.
Following last year’s successful exchange, students and staff from Nori Kevers School returned for a three-day visit.
During their time at the college, visiting students were paired with St David’s learners through a buddy system.
This gave them the chance to experience college life first-hand and study in Cardiff, while our students developed confidence, leadership and intercultural communication skills through this cultural exchange programme.
Alongside attending lessons, the group took part in a range of activities, while visiting teachers spent time with staff sharing ideas and approaches to teaching.
Alongside the visitors from Japan, we also hosted a group of 15 students and two teachers from Peru for a month-long trip in March as part of a wider international student exchange.
The group visited the college weekly and worked closely with our International Buddies – a volunteer team of over 25 students trained in peer mentoring through Elevate.
During their time with the college, the students engaged in cultural exchange programme activities, tours, discussions and group mentoring sessions. These activities helped to build confidence and intercultural understanding between both groups while giving students a meaningful opportunity to study in Cardiff.
Feedback from both sets of students was overwhelmingly positive:
“Working with the Peruvian students was amazing. We learned so much from each other, and it felt like we were part of one big community.”
“Everyone at St David’s was so welcoming. We loved the activities, made new friends, and learned a lot about Welsh culture.”
Overall, these successful visits reflect the college’s continued focus on international student exchange and delivering high-quality cultural exchange programme opportunities.
With links continuing to develop, we look forward to welcoming future groups and continuing to offer opportunities for students to study in Cardiff.