What does ethical, impactful international student travel actually look like
Blog by Renate Potgieter and Chloe Rothwell, Challenges Abroad
Sending students overseas is not a decision taken lightly. There are logistics to manage, ethics to consider, learning outcomes to justify, and the very real responsibility of student wellbeing in unfamiliar environments. We understand why educational institutions ask hard questions before committing, and we think they should. Here’s an honest look at what we do, why we do it, and what it actually looks like in practice.
“Isn’t this just voluntourism with a university stamp on it?”
We hear this one a lot and we’re genuinely glad people ask it. Voluntourism trips that benefit the traveller far more than the community, is a real problem in this space, and we’ve built our entire model in deliberate opposition to it. With our own charity, the FutureSense Foundation, and permanent teams based all year round in the destinations that we work, we ensure that our programs are mutually beneficial to both students and communities. Our projects are community-led, our partnerships span years not weeks, and nothing we run is designed around what looks good in a brochure. Sustainability, long-term impact, and cultural understanding are embedded throughout.
And worth mentioning, we’re a certified B Corp. That’s not a badge we take lightly. It means we’re independently held to account on our social and environmental impact, and we think that matters in this industry more than most.
“How do we know students are actually making a difference?”
Completely fair question, and one we love being asked! Students join projects that are already established and supported by in-country teams, they’re not expected to figure it out themselves. Community partners identify the needs, local teams guide the work, and students contribute their knowledge and skills in ways that are genuinely useful rather than performative. The impact is real, and we’re always happy to share the evidence.
“What happens if something goes wrong while students are abroad?”
This is the question every educational institution has to ask, and we’d be concerned if they didn’t. Every programme is supported by trained in-country staff, thorough risk assessments, clear emergency procedures, and 24/7 support throughout. Students are looked after from arrival to departure, and we provide comprehensive briefing documentation before anyone boards a plane. We take this seriously because the trust placed in us really means a lot to us.
“How do you prepare students – especially ones who’ve never travelled independently before?”
Honestly, that’s exactly who we design the preparation for. Before departure, students receive destination guides, cultural briefings, health and safety information, packing guidance, and live webinar sessions. We stay in regular contact through email, WhatsApp and calls in the leadup to travel so no one feels like they’re heading into the unknown. Some of our most powerful experiences have involved students who had never left the country before, and the growth in those cases is something else entirely.
“Can these programmes genuinely count towards learning outcomes?”
Yes. and this is something we love working through with each institution. Students develop leadership, communication, teamwork, adaptability, cultural awareness, and real-world problem solving. These aren’t small CV additions, they’re competencies that employers value and are essential to shaping strong career pathways. We sit down with institutions to align programmes with specific learning outcomes, module requirements, and graduate attributes. The academic case for experiential learning like this is well established, and we’re always happy to walk through it together.
“What do students actually say about it afterwards?”
That it changed them. We hear from students who arrived nervous and came home genuinely transformed, more confident, more self-aware, clearer about who they are and what they want. Many say it was the most formative experience of their entire studies. We collect feedback, reflections, and participation data after every programme, and honestly, the consistency of that response never gets old for us.
“How does this fit with what educational institutions are trying to achieve right now?”
More closely than people often expect! Global citizenship, graduate employability, sustainability commitments, widening participation, meaningful international experience, these are priorities we hear from institutions all the time, and they run through everything we do. Our programmes don’t exist alongside academic goals. They serve them directly.
“We’ve had bad experiences with student travel providers before. What makes you different?”
We really do understand that hesitation. We’re not a travel company that bolted on an ethical layer for marketing purposes. Challenges Abroad was built around long-term partnerships and structured learning from the start, that’s the foundation, not a selling point added later. Being a B Corp keeps us honest about that. We care deeply about every programme and every partnership, and every student to deliver consistently.
“Can you work with us to build something specific to our institution?”
Absolutely, and this is honestly one of our favourite parts of the job. We collaborate with educational institutions to shape programmes around particular subject areas, learning outcomes, academic calendars, student cohorts, and institutional values. Faculty-led experiences, bespoke programme development, subject-specific placements – we’ve done it all, and we love the process of building something that actually fits rather than handing over something off the shelf.
“Where do you operate and what kinds of programmes do you run?”
We currently deliver programs across Thailand, Cambodia, Peru, Panama, Nepal, India, and Tanzania, offering a wide range of immersive global experiences that can be tailored to suit virtually any academic discipline. While our programmes often include areas such as community development, public health, education, conservation, and leadership development, these are just examples of what’s possible. We work closely with partners to design customised experiences that align with specific learning outcomes, student interests, faculty priorities, and institutional goals – creating flexible programs that are as unique as the cohorts participating in them.
“What does success actually look like for you?”
A student who boards the plane anxious and comes home knowing more about the world, and themselves. A community that’s been genuinely supported, not just visited. An institution that sees real outcomes and wants to run it again. When all three of those things come together, we know we’ve got it right. That’s what we’re here for.
Join Challenges Abroad in today.
Gain insights to a different culture, experience new things and begin your journey to global citizenship!