Study trips, most popular destinations include the USA, Australia, Canada and Asia. UK on the decline

Thirty years ago, if you asked a young person between the ages of 18 and 34 their most popular destination for a study trip abroad, they would have answered the United Kingdom and the United States. Today this is no longer the case: the former country has lost ground, also, but not only, due to Brexit, the latter has gained some. And above all, new destinations have emerged that are attracting those who want to do a study period abroad, such as Australia, Canada and above all the Asian countries that are registering the strongest growth. This is according to a survey carried out by the YouGov research institute on behalf of Wep, the organisation that deals with cultural and language exchanges around the world and is recognised by the Ministry of Education and Merit.

The Wep Observatory notes a strong change in the choice of destinations and a clear impact of new technologies. In the last 30 years, almost one Italian in three has participated in a study trip abroad. Among the youngest, the quota rises to 47%. It may be due to the legacy of Brexit, it may be due to globalisation and the emergence of countries such as China and India, but among the most popular destinations there has been a shift from the undisputed dominance of the United States and the United Kingdom, to the growth of destinations such as Australia, Canada and Asian countries. According to the survey, which was conducted on a representative sample of 1,020 people, half of the Italians (51%) think that the destinations on offer are much more diversified than in the past, 30 years ago, when the most sought-after destinations were the United Kingdom, as 68% said, and the United States, indicated by 43%. Although still a popular destination, the UK drops 18 points and is mentioned by 50%, while the US rises to 57%. Half of Italians believe that the Brexit has negatively influenced their perception of the UK. GenX and Millennials stand out in this assessment: a third, 32%, do not think so. Meanwhile, Australia gained ground, rising from 7 to 28%, and Canada rose from 8 to 22%. Asian countries have seen the greatest growth, rising from 4% to 28%, with a peak of 41% among 18-34 year olds. "For the first time, thanks to this survey, we can outline the significant growth of the study travel experience in recent years: as many as one Italian in three has chosen to undertake a learning path abroad. For the interviewees, study trips represent a combination of education, culture and global opportunities, establishing themselves as a real bridge to the future,' says Lorenzo Agati, CEO and founder of Wep Italia.

What influences the choice of destination is first and foremost the language one wishes to learn, which is the criterion used by 67% of respondents, with differences between generations: this criterion is relevant for the over-55s (75%), less so for those aged between 18 and 34 (56%). This is followed by the opportunities offered by schools and universities, indicated by 55% of respondents, and the culture of the country (34%). Other elements mentioned are the cost of living, the reputation of educational institutions and the possibility of networking. Other criteria also crop up among the youngest respondents, such as fun, indicated by 26%, and the perception of choosing a cool destination, indicated by 34%.

What makes organising study trips abroad much easier is undoubtedly digitalisation. On this issue, however, the perception of the generations is different, also because experience is very different: among those aged between 18 and 34, 75% think so, while among those over 55, 85%. In addition to digitalisation, the transformation brought about by the post-pandemic also has an impact on study trips. While a third of 18-34 year olds believe that the pandemic has reinforced the importance of having educational experiences abroad, more than a quarter of those over 55 think that the pandemic has reduced the propensity, especially among younger people, to leave home. Certainly in organising a study trip, the support of the organisation that is chosen for four main factors counts: the quality of the schools and courses offered, as 44% of respondents said, value for money (39%), the safety of participants (33%) and local support (39%). However, priorities change according to age, for younger people value for money is the main criterion, for those over 55, the quality of the schools.

Among those who did not leave, the main obstacle is the cost (44%): still today, 4 out of 10 Italians perceive these experiences as elitist, a legacy from when study abroad opportunities were more limited and less accessible. For younger people, the other discouraging factor is the interference with school or academic performance. Almost half (45%), however, speak of a positive effect on their school average.