7th Mar 2023
Last week our Beauty students returned from an exciting two-week trip in Thailand. The group had travelled to Bangkok where they trained at the Chiva-Som Academy, a leading spa school which offers courses accredited by the Confederation of International Beauty Therapy and Cosmetology (CIBTAC).
The trip was funded by the Turing Scheme, a competitive grant funding scheme which provides grants for students studying in the UK to go on study or work placements across the world; the funding was organised by tutor Kirstie Lawrence and enabled all our Beauty students to have this special opportunity without the concern of fees.
The students set off on Wednesday 1st February and began their trip with two days of sightseeing, making the most of the time they had to be tourists before starting their course. They began their visit in Bangkok Yai where they visited Wat Arun, a Buddhist temple on the Chao Phraya River. They then enjoyed a river cruise, later arriving at the MBK markets; famous for having over 2000 shops, restaurants & cafes.
On their second day, the students had the chance to visit an Elephant Sanctuary and a floating market, where confectionary goods and homecrafts are sold from small boats.
To ease back into the student mindset, the group went to Wat Pho Temple and the Wat Pho Thai Traditional Massage School, where they were introduced to the origins of Thai Massage. The students then began their weeklong training at the Chiva-Som Academy, where they learnt traditional Thai Massage techniques and how to make authentic herbal compresses.
After exciting and challenging days of learning and some focused revision sessions, all 14 students passed both the practical and theory exams in authentic Thai Massage.
With their new qualification and experience under their belt, the group had a final chance to enjoy the local scenery and make new memories together. During the trip, two of our students celebrated their birthday and Kirstie and Sarah kindly organised a surprise birthday cake and a dinner to celebrate. Before heading home, the group visited a butterfly sanctuary and enjoyed a final day on Bangsaen Beach.
Nikki Samuels, Beauty’s Curriculum Manager was delighted to hear that the students had such a great time and that they had all passed their exam. She thanked her team for their hard work in making the trip happen:
“Our amazing staff Kirstie Lawrence and Sarah Dobbs have been the glue that has held this trip of a lifetime together. They, alongside all 14 of our students passed both the practical and theory exam in authentic Thai Massage. This was down to sheer hard work and determination, many studying well into the night in order to succeed. All were awarded a certificate, pin and flowers.”
If you would like to learn more about the Beauty courses offered at Abingdon & Witney College, please click here.
