University of Westminster (SOES) – Sustainable Global Experience

Level 5 students from School of Organisation, Economy and Society (SOES) who meet at least two or more of the following criteria will be prioritised. If you don’t please still register your interest and we’ll let you know if you can be considered.

1. Come from a household with a family income of £25,000 or under.
2. Family home is in a council estate
3. Home postcode (not term time address) is within an area of deprivation (decile 1 or 2 on the Index of Multiple Deprivation).
4. Are Carers or Care Experienced
5. Are refugees/asylum seekers
6. Are registered with Disability Learning Support
7. First- generation in family to go to university
8. First-generation English Speaker in the family
9. Are from Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic groups including Roma, Gypsy or Travelling community
10. Have not previous gone on International Trips as part of their course

University of Westminster is fully funding the programme fee as part of Distant Horizons Funding. The programme fee includes travel via Eurostar from London to Amsterdam, accommodation in Amsterdam and all the itinerary activities throughout the trip. 

All students will be invoiced for a refundable £50 deposit which will be refunded upon completion of the programme. 

Please note that daily spending money for food, visa fees (if required) or accommodation in London prior to the Eurostar is not included in the Programme Fee

1. Register Interest: Fill in the form at the bottom of this page. Once submitted, our friendly team will be in touch to establish your eligibility and answer any questions you may have.
2. Application Form: Once you understand the programme details, complete the full application form, we will assess your application with your university. 
3. Agreement & Onboarding: If awarded a place and you’re happy to proceed, will confirm the dates you want to travel. Just sign our agreement and pay the refundable deposit to secure your place. Following this, our team will be in touch for onboarding and will support you through the necessary pre-departure steps. 

Pagoda will host a virtual pre-departure event where participants will have the chance to have their questions answered. A recording of the event will be provided to those unable to attend.

Carbon Literacy is “an awareness of the carbon dioxide costs and impacts of everyday activities, and the ability and motivation to reduce emissions, on an individual, community and organisational basis.” More than 1,700 organisations across the UK and internationally have empowered their teams with Carbon Literacy Training including the NHS, the BBC, and Manchester City Council.

On this programme, you’ll complete 12 hours of Carbon Literacy Training and submit a pledge to gain certification from the Carbon Literacy Project. This is widely recognised as a personal and professional commitment to tackling climate change.

The field trip puts your carbon literacy training into practice, as you’ll explore the city of Amsterdam or Brussels through a carbon-conscious lens. We’ll travel and live sustainably, with minimal impact on the environment and meet with local people and businesses that are adopting sustainable practices. 

Any carbon generated will be offset 150% through Gold Standard offsetting projects. Throughout the week, you’ll work on an Enquiry-Based Learning (EBL) group project, exploring the sustainability of local businesses and presenting your findings to the group.

According to the International Energy Alliance’s (IEA) 2020 Tracking Transport Report, ships, planes and road vehicles make up almost three-quarters of global transport emissions.

Urban and high-speed trains are one of the most sustainable, long-distance transport methods. 

Eurostar’s high-speed trains are the most carbon-efficient option when travelling between London and neighbouring European cities. On average, travelling on the Eurostar emits 10 times less carbon per passenger compared to a short-haul flight to the same destination.

The chosen transport to your destination is the Eurostar which is included in your programme fee.

Please note! You may need to make you way to London before the trip and you may need to find yourself accommodation in London the night before the Eurostar departure. You just need to make your way to London before the trip and you may need to find yourself accommodation in London the night before the Eurostar (travel to London and accommodation in London are not included in the programme fee. 

Reflecting the programme’s core ethos of low-carbon living, the group will stay in high-quality hostels. This supports and demonstrates sustainable and environmental practices. The hostel will be situated in, or close to, the city centre with excellent public transport links.

Wherever possible Pagoda will try to allocate same gender hostel dorms, however we cannot always guarantee this depending on those confirmed onto the programme. If you are not comfortable with mixed gender hostel room, please let your Pagoda contact know as early as possible in your pre-departure steps so that they can consider possibilities. 

Organised guided tours and visits to local attractions will welcome you to your city. All entrance fees are covered as part of the programme and the group will be fully supported and supervised throughout the activity by a friendly member of the Pagoda staff.

Participants will have their evenings free throughout the programme to explore the city and bond with their fellow teammates. A Digital Welcome Pack of the city’s (arguably) best sustainable attractions, shops and restaurants will also be provided.

The Pagoda Portal is a digital hub for our student community. You can use it to network with other interns, locate key information and register for online skills courses. 

Our online skills courses focus on Employability, Digital Competency and Intercultural Fluency. They’ll provide you with the skills and agility needed for a global and ever-changing workplace