Hi Scott, and welcome to the Study Abroad Panel! You’ve described study abroad as life-changing. Can you share a particular moment from your own experience that shaped your approach to educational travel?

I did an Erasmus year studying abroad in France. However, due to an error in paperwork, I was signed up for a course in nuclear physics … in French. Needless to say, atomic fission in a foreign language is not the easiest subject to get your head around, but France is a world leader in the industry and I was meeting some incredible, world-renowned professors and rubbing shoulders with the next generation of nuclear scientists. I learned that not everything always goes smoothly in educational travel, but the experiences that arise when there is a hiccup, are often some of the most valuable!

What do you see as the key challenges or opportunities in the study abroad sector in 2026?

I think it boils down to two letters : AI. AI is here to stay and is reshaping how people are learning and travelling. An AI can suggest the best itinerary for you, a local phrase day to practice and might have even been part of your decision making process of studying abroad in the first place.

For the study abroad sector, and indeed the travel industry as a whole, we want to be learning how AI can be used to provide the best experiences. Can it provide more people with the tools they need to feel confident to study abroad? Can it break down the barriers that might block others from accessing the opportunity? It’s exciting an exciting and quickly evolving tool that is opening up doors we didn’t even know were there a few years ago.

If you could give one “insider” tip to students about making the most of a study abroad programme, what would it be?

To get the most out of a study abroad programme, my one tip would be – interact with as many locals as possible. It can be very easy to remain in the “bubble” of study abroad students (which of course is a really great community to be part of), but I would say that is only part of the experience and don’t forget the reasons you went to study abroad in the first place. If it was to learn the language, then go and make some friends with locals who don’t speak your home language. If it was to travel as much as possible, then have those moments with locals which make that travel unique. If it was to put yourself out of your comfort zone, then make sure you are always challenging yourself to be doing things that do in fact push you out of your comfort zone! For me, the magic happens when you connect to the place, not just the program.

Finally, do you have a favourite city, country, or experience from your years in educational travel that always inspires you?

Japan is a country which I am always inspired by. It is a country of amazing tradition but also great development. Currently, it is one of the most visited countries on the planet, and I think that is because people share the same wonder as I have. I’ve watched students being taken aback by an incredible temple in the morning, and then when they board the metro in the afternoon, they hop on without fear and say “it’s just like the Tube back home”. These moments, of finding something familiar in a strange new place I think is a great way to see how students are growing in confidence. Japan has a million of them, which is why I am always inspired by it!