International cooperation and study travels

In week 11, students in 2.g (second year students) and teachers go on study tours, exchange programs or other activity trips. The trip lasts about a week. Essentially, a study tour means education outside school.

The class coordinator (a position held by a teacher) selects the destination in a professional context. For the students, the purpose of the study tour is to learn, mature, and socialize in a foreign culture and context.

Generally speaking, the academic content of study tour is to support the study profile, and the various visits and projects abroad are organised with a clear view to the subjects taught at home.

Activities in the study tour program are part of the curriculum. The details of the programs are organised by the teachers in cooperation with the students. During the trip the students often seek

• to get an impression of the country’s culture,
• to hear and to practice the foreign language that students have studied,
• experience how organizing everyday life can be done differently than at home, or
• to implement sports and outdoor activities in an intensive program and in other environments than at home.

The price of the study trip depends on the destination. The price is DDK 3500 – 4000 when talking about a European destination. A special bank account is set up for each class. The sooner the class begins saving money, the better.

It is possible to organize study trips to more distant destinations, such as China or the U.S.

Having said this, if travel expenses may exceed DKK 4000, parents are consulted directly. In these cases in particular, the class will have to acquire funding by doing work in the students’ spare time. Previously, students have organised flea markets, fashion shows, foundations, etc.

In 2010, students from Sønderborg Statsskole travelled to Athens, Barcelona, Istanbul, London, Malaga, Lanzarote (Club La Santa Sport) and New York.