Pupils to get 'new world' trips

Students will compete for 100 places

School and college leavers in England are to get the chance to compete for six-week educational trips abroad.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown will launch the Global Fellowship scheme, which will place 100 teenagers abroad a year, starting with China, India and Brazil.

The idea is for them to explore cultures and societies which ministers think will be key to Britain's future.

Selection begins in the spring and the winners will get to work in a school, visit a company and learn a language.

Mr Brown said: "The Global Fellowship programme will offer young people in Britain the opportunity to see first hand the new world of the 21st century that is opening up before us.

"It will develop the global awareness and enterprise skills that our young people will need to make Britain a success story in the future."

Candidates, who have to be aged 18 or 19 at the beginning of the programme, will be put forward by their head teacher or college principal.

Students will be asked to suggest a project they would like to do while on their visit, with a view to sharing their experiences with their school, college or local community when they get back.

Global businesses

Ed Balls, Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, said: "This is a fantastic opportunity for young people not only to travel the world and learn about new cultures, but also to have the invaluable experience of finding out about how global businesses operate.

"I hope they will all have a fascinating time and pass on what they have learnt about emerging economic giants to other young people in the country."

The programme will be run by the British Council and be funded by the DCSF at a cost of £1.4m a year.

It has the support of some businesses, including Shell, HSBC and Tesco, which will show successful students their operations in the chosen countries.