Turing funding set to support 500 Hallam students secure global opportunities

18th August 2022

More than 500 Sheffield Hallam University students will have the opportunity to work, study or volunteer internationally as part a government-funded scheme to encourage students from all backgrounds to choose to study abroad.

The Turing Scheme, named after mathematician Alan Turing, is a global exchange programme, launched in 2021 following the UK’s withdrawal from the EU Erasmus+ programme.

The government has just announced new funding for the academic year 2022/23, with Sheffield Hallam awarded £731,000 which will support more than 500 students to work or study abroad. 

In 2021/22 academic year, the University was awarded £612,000 which enabled more than 350 students to undertake international study or work placement.

One of the funded international placements involved a group of 15 students who travelled to Greece and Poland this summer to spend time with a partner organisation Movement on the Ground to support refugees and spend time at an orphanage which has relocated from Ukraine.

Chloe Grindy is a second-year occupational therapy student who travelled to Greece to undertake a six-week placement at a refugee camp.

Chloe said: "My experience working with Movement on the Ground at a refugee camp in Chios was nothing short of life-changing. I feel that this experience has allowed me to develop personally and professionally as I was given the freedom to 'spread my wings' and run my own projects to really make a difference to the lives of residents living on the camp.

“I facilitated and set up many women's only activities which included arts and crafts, English classes, football, and yoga, which enabled women to participate in activities which were meaningful to them. This experience has enabled me to develop useful and unique knowledge, skills and cultural awareness to prepare me for my future career as an occupational therapist." 

Other projects include a small group of students working in Berlin with a partner nursery school and another group will travel to Palermo to develop their Italian language skills. 

Professor Sir Chris Husbands, Vice-Chancellor of Sheffield Hallam University, said: “Spending time in a different country is life-changing for students – expanding horizons, encouraging new ways of thinking and improving employment prospects.

“Through our partnerships with international organisations and institutions we have developed a significant number of global opportunities, which have a positive impact on our learning community.

“I am pleased the University has again received such a significant amount of funding through the Turing Scheme to enable more of our students to be able to take up such opportunities.”

Find out more about study abroad opportunities at Sheffield Hallam University.