Claudia Randazzo, CEO and founder of Trinity Study Travel, agreed to answer some questions on a topic that is particularly close to the hearts of parents and students: what criteria to include when choosing a study trip in Italy or abroad.
It is a pleasure to be here to share our experience in the study abroad travel sector. Since 1998, we have been organizing trips abroad and in Italy for children and adults of all ages.
How can 25 years of activity of Trinity ViaggiStudio be summarized?
Trinity was founded in 1998 and I was one of the founding members. In these 25 years, we have constantly focused on the well-being of students and their safety during study trips. For example, for those who opt for the Academic Year Abroad, we organize webinars dedicated to parents, considering their concerns in "letting go" of their children. Our commitment is to guarantee customer satisfaction through valuable initiatives.
Trinity ViaggiStudio offers a wide range of programs for Italian students. Could you give us an overview of the types of programs you offer?
We follow the linguistic growth path of students from elementary school to university and beyond. We offer Summer Camps in Italy entirely in English for the little ones, two-week study vacations abroad for middle and high school students, and the Academic Year Abroad for high school students.
The safety and wellbeing of students is a priority for Trinity ViaggiStudio. What measures do you take to ensure their safety during study trips?
We carefully choose our partners abroad and only work with those who meet high standards of reliability. During the trips, the youngest are always accompanied by a group leader who is available 24/24 and in constant contact with our offices. During the summer, we send senior and junior supervisors to the various countries to support the group leaders. In addition, in places with a high influx of students, we send Italian doctors to intervene in case of need. For longer programs, we offer 7/7 telephone support and local tutors in contact with us.
How do you select and qualify accommodation facilities for students during their study trips?
We visit college facilities in advance for the younger ones and choose based on experience and trust. We organize “educational” trips for our companions so that they can visit the facilities. For host families, we make a rigorous selection and verify their reliability through reviews of students who have already stayed with them. However, finding the right family can sometimes be more complex.
Speaking of homestays, what is needed for students to be successful in this experience?
living with a family abroad you need to be adaptable and open to new realities. You need to be mature and ready for a year-long experience. Before accepting a registration, we conduct aptitude interviews to assess the suitability of the child for the program. We also organize pre-departure training sessions with specialized coaches to prepare the children. However, sometimes unexpected problems arise, which must be addressed by the family of origin.
What criteria do you use in selecting tutors and on-site assistance?
Criteria include work done during the year, reputation, availability and problem solving ability. We also evaluate adherence to our corporate values of transparency, clarity and customer focus.
How do you handle emergencies or problems during study trips?
We have a task force with emergency numbers available 24 hours a day to deal with any flight problems and ground services. The group leader or passenger can contact us and we are in contact with local correspondents to promptly resolve the situation.
Thank you for your valuable information, Claudia Randazzo. It was a pleasure to meet you and understand better the mission of Trinity ViaggiStudio.
Thank you. I hope this meeting has been useful to confirm the commitment and attention we dedicate to the safety and well-being of students during their study trips with Trinity ViaggiStudio.
Article published on 4 August 2023 - 09:46
