Page 23 - StudyTravel Magazine August 2018 Issue

SpECIAl REpORT StUdytrAvel mAgAZIne AUgUSt 2018

Vocational – with a difference Among the company’s newest course offerings
When considering vocational training, it is not neces- is its Kenya Safari Guide course. Leading to a quali-
sary only to think in terms of the more well-known ca- fi cation accredited by the Kenya Professional Safari
reer choices. EcoTraining Guides and Guardians www. Guides Association (KPSGA), this includes elements
ecotraining.ca.za, based in Nelspruit, South Africa, of both theoretical and practical learning in the natural
runs a range of both accredited and non-accredited environment of the Masai Mara.
programmes for aspiring fi eld/safari guides. With an estimated 28 per cent of current students
Its programmes range in length from seven-to-14 coming from German-speaking countries, EcoTraining
days for its EcoTracker course on Animal Tracks and has noticed “a drastic increase in US participants”,
Tracking, up to one year for its accredited Professional which, says Natashia, is largely due to the growing
Field Guide course, the latter of which, observes popularity of its Summer School and Study Abroad
Marketing Manager, Natashia da Silva, “is quite programmes. We also fi nd a pleasing growth of Chi-
sought-after by gap year students”, many of whom, nese participants attending, due to the growing popu-
she points out, discover they want a career in nature/ larity of conservation-awareness in Asian countries,”
environmental areas. she observes. jvs@studytravel.network

Figure 1: Figure 3:
In the past 12 months, have student enquiries Which is your most popular destination for vocational
regarding vocational programmes… programmes?

Increased 59% Canada 35%
Decreased 16% Australia 27%
Stayed the same 25% UK 21%
Ireland 9.5%
USA 5.5%
Other 2%

Figure 2: Figure 4:
Which of the following are most important when Most popular vocational courses requests
students are deciding where to study? from students.

Low living/tuition costs 27% Business 55%
Wide choice of courses/ Catering/Hospitality 10%
qualifi cations 24% Computers/IT 6%
Post study work rights Travel and Tourism 5.5%
21.5% Nursing 5.5%
Ease of getting a visa Art and Design 4%
15.5% Childcare 2%
Other 12% Teaching 2%
Other 10%
Source: StudyTravel Magazine survey of 51 agents
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