7th January 2025
South Devon College students stepped into the Arctic Circle as part of a once-in-a-lifetime trip, thanks to funding from the Turing Scheme.
A group of A-level students spent two weeks in Bodø, Norway, to take part in the international Business Game. They stayed in the town of Bodø, the European City of Culture 2024 and worked alongside their peers at Bodø High School in the Business Game simulation.
Numerous countries participate in the Business Game, including Germany, Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, Hungary and the UK, forming a strong international partnership of organisations. The premise is to set up a fictional business, source and subsequently sell the stock, realising a profit.
In Norway, the students split into groups containing buyers, sellers and finance coordinators, with the aim of buying products as cheaply as possible from Germany and selling them to students in the Netherlands for as much profit as possible. The process involves learning many new skills, from creating a brand identity and logo to negotiation and business acumen.
Tom Brookman-Skirrow, Lecturer in Geography at South Devon College and accompanying staff on the trip, said: “The students learned so many new skills. They even had to create a website from scratch, which I don’t think any of them had done before. They all achieved it in a few days, which was incredible.
“They basically had to create an office environment in another country using the internal banking system as part of the Business Game, using IBAN numbers and a balance of 15,000 Euros, and communicating with the Norwegian students to order supplies and products.
“Our students adapted so quickly and got on with it, which was brilliant. They worked really well in groups as well.”
Student Jasmine Watts, 17, studying Photography, Business and Sociology, said: “The trip really got me to focus on myself and how I can improve my academic studies. I got to meet lots of new people and made some amazing friends.”
Noah Kelly, who is 17 and studying A-levels in Art, Film and English Language, agreed that the communication skills gained were a highlight: “I think the trip was a really good way to prove to yourself that you can work in an entirely new environment and with people you don’t know, which is helpful for going to university after A-levels.”
As much as the students enjoyed the Business Game, there was also plenty of time for cultural activities.
The students learned that the Norwegians are very passionate about their local football team, so the group were lucky enough to see the Bodø/Glimt vs Qarabağ FK Game. Unfortunately, the home team lost 2-1 but it was a fun experience!
There was also an overnight stay in Oslo during the middle weekend of the trip, here they visited Oslo National Museum, ‘Nasjonalmuseet’, seeing original artists’ work including Johan Christian Dahl, Matthias Stoltenberg and Edvard Munch’s original ‘Scream’ painting. They also visited The Paradox Museum and a Christmas market.
As with many College trips, food also played a prominent role, including a gingerbread house-making competition, improving personal skills by learning new cooking techniques in the self-catering accommodation and visiting restaurants, notably a sushi bar and Brazilian BBQ.
Two standout highlights for the students were seeing the amazing Northern Lights, as well as visiting a Christmas market.
Kira Krasavtseva, 17, who is studying Psychology, Film Studies and Photography, said: “This trip was an amazing experience! A lot of things happened like seeing the Northern Lights and attending the Christmas fair, but I loved how all of us got closer and we gained more connections between different people. I really loved it.”
The trip was a big confidence boost for Leelee Burrington, 17, who is studying Art, Literature and Film: “Overall I really enjoyed the amount of freedom we were given on the trip, to explore the city and find out what we wanted to do in a new country. I had never been on a trip like this before and it really helped build my confidence in navigating a new environment.”
The project was made possible through the Government-funded Turing Scheme, offering global travel to participate in work or study placements.
The final thoughts are from Chloe Woodbridge, 17, studying for her A-Levels in Sociology, Photography, and Film Studies: ”I love that the trip brought me and my friends together – I felt like I had closer friendships with people when returning to England as we now have shared experiences that we will remember and cherish forever.”
