A world of opportunity

Our worldwide community of alumni and supporters create a host of opportunities for Leeds students and early-career researchers to travel overseas, learn together and develop as true global citizens.

Spending time abroad can be invaluable to our students. Whether part of their course, or as an experience beyond the curriculum, these opportunities expand their horizons, help them develop language and leadership skills and offer vital insights into foreign cultures and the world of work.

The result is graduates who are not just work-ready, but more empathetic, agile, and able to lead with cultural awareness – skills that remain with them long after the programme ends.

Yet for many, taking up these opportunities would be impossible without financial support. Your generosity is opening these life-changing experiences to the very students who can benefit most.

“These programmes can be transformative,” says Head of Global Opportunities Ben Oldham. “They give students unparalleled opportunities to apply their knowledge in real-world settings and gain unique perspectives which they bring back to Leeds and which enrich our whole community."

The photographs on this page were taken by Leeds students taking part in international programmes over the past 18 months.

Working and learning overseas

Our Global Futures programme – made possible by the Government-funded Turing Scheme and your gifts to the University – enables students from under-represented backgrounds to join business projects in Malaysia.

Michael Wiciak (MSc Computer Science with Artificial Intelligence 2025) worked on website development and data management with social enterprise Earth Heir which markets products from local artisans and indigenous people. “I was the only technical person in the office, so I had to communicate what I knew from a technical standpoint and offer solutions for the business. This experience helped me refine my skills to understand what clients need.”

Georgie Lawson (Geography 2025) joined the Sea Monkey Project, a start-up business finding solutions for plastic waste in the ocean. She worked in the marketing and sales team and helped build the brand’s social media presence. The students also took part in workshops with talks from leaders in different industries, and took the opportunity to immerse themselves in the city’s culture.

Mongolia - Catriona Gilchrist

An ocean of experience

A business founded with the support of the University’s student enterprise programme Spark is enabling today’s students to enjoy life-changing experiences on the other side of the world.

While at Leeds, Harry Hunter (Modern History 2007) met Simon Darker, who studied at Leeds Metropolitan University, now Leeds Beckett, and they bonded over a passion for community projects overseas. With Spark’s help, they founded social enterprise Think Pacific, whose hands-on programmes in Fiji, Bali and Thailand allow participants to experience new cultures, develop skills and support local communities.

Last summer, a group of students joined Think Pacific’s Youth Empowerment Project in Fiji, living with families in local villages while working with young people on issues of mental health, the environment, sport, enterprise and physical health.

Fourth year psychology student Lauren Baker delivered workshops on positive mental health and wellbeing: “I was able to explore different cultural perspectives on mental health. I led a workshop on self-care strategies and one of the mums now implements them into her daily routine. I was deeply moved to see this impact.

“Immersing myself in a different culture taught me how valuable it is to approach mental health from different perspectives and to understand how social and cultural contexts influence wellbeing.”

Third-year sustainability and environmental management student Henry German, ran a debate on environment and climate, encouraging participants to explore the argument from the differing perspectives of villagers and the government. “It was great to see the group understanding the topic more,” he said. “It was fantastic to see the group develop their confidence and public speaking skills – and improve their English.”

During his stay, Henry lived with a farmer whose rainforest village can only be reached by walking through a river. In recent years, increased rainfall has meant children often cannot get to school and villagers cannot reach the market to trade. The students who took part are now planning to raise funds for a bridge to access the village.

A cultural exchange

An international leadership programme provides a unique cultural exchange between students from Leeds and KAIST in Korea. Funded through the long-standing support of Dr Byiung J. Park (PhD Engineering 1966) it has brought a new dimension to the learning experience for students from the two universities.

Staged alternately in the two countries, the programme exposes these young people to a host of valuable experiences. Through meeting academics and leaders from business and local government, and taking part in a rich social and cultural programme, the students take a deep dive into the daily lives, traditions and issues of each other’s society.

In group projects, the students are set challenges through which they explore one of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Working together, they confront these real-world issues of modern society and propose how these might be tackled and overcome.

Over the past five years, more than 150 students from Leeds and Korea have joined this remarkable programme, through which they have worked together, forged lifelong connections, and developed as leaders steeped in a genuine understanding of each other’s cultures.

Elizabeth Angus (Modern Languages and Business 2025) summed up the impact of the programme: “From the minute we arrived in Korea to the minute we left, everything was a learning experience. The programme doesn’t end when you go back home – it allows you to be a part of a lifelong community that empowers you to take on future leadership roles.”

Argentina - Joel Herman

Learning for the global workplace

A host of students have learned valuable cross-cultural skills while working with one of the best-known manufacturing companies in the world.

Toyota Boshoku, part of the Toyota group, manufactures components from aircraft seats to oil filters, selling products worldwide. A summer internship programme supported by company chairman Dr Shuhei Toyoda (PhD Tribology 1977) provides work placements for Leeds students across the business. Several who experienced the opportunity have gone on to secure graduate roles with Toyota Boshoku.

Among those in last summer's delegation was Freya Oliver, a third-year international relations student who took up an internship in human resources. She said: “Living in a new country and immersing myself in their culture has given me a global outlook. With this unique experience, I’m more confident to apply to work overseas.”

Dr Toyoda said: “Over the past ten years, we have welcomed nearly 60 interns from Leeds – and I feel a profound sense of connection and pride in our partnership. We look forward to providing more opportunities for students to gain practical experience, broaden their perspectives and grow into leaders who will shape the future.”

Strengthening ties through research

Interdisciplinary research and collaboration – combining the strengths of two Universities almost 6,000 miles apart – is the focus of a fellowship programme established by Dr David Fine (PhD Physical Chemistry 1967).

The Gray & Fine Innovation Fellowships bring together early-to-mid-career researchers from Leeds and the University of Witwatersrand in South Africa. Together they explore the nature of interdisciplinary research, build collaborations and develop new research directions. The support is inspiring a new generation of researchers to approach global challenges with courage, creativity and purpose.

Dr Fine has also given pump-priming funding to 12 research projects, many focused on urgent issues in sub-Saharan Africa. The support is enabling researchers to gather the data needed to support larger grant applications in future.

The gift of time – all around the world

From North America to Southeast Asia, Central Europe to Australasia, the global alumni community give time to help fellow alumni connect, and to support students at the start of their Leeds journey.

Alumni volunteers co-ordinate Leeds groups and organise reunions in their local area. In Jakarta, 130 alumni reunited at the Indonesia Stock Exchange for panel talks and a Leeds-themed quiz. In Shanghai, volunteers organised panel talks, city walks, wine and whisky tasting events; in Abuja, a reunion event saw attendees reconnect with friends, network and celebrate shared memories.

Alumni also give their time to speak to prospective students before they come to Leeds. In the past year, hundreds of alumni volunteers have met with prospective students at major events in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. They spoke on panels, led networking sessions, and advised prospective students following in their footsteps.

In India, alumni volunteered at events across a number of cities. They spoke to offer holders and their families, sharing insights, advice and encouragement – helping to answer key questions before new students arrive in Leeds, often for the first time.

“Volunteering was an incredibly rewarding experience,” said Charlotte Cai (MA Global Fashion Management 2020). “I was able to support students to navigate important decisions, while also building valuable connections and insights for my own personal growth.”

Wherever members of our community might go in the world, your generosity ensures that a Leeds connection is never far away. Find out more about global alumni groups and how to join them.

A WORLD OF OPPORTUNITY