Searching for overseas holidays that won’t break the bank she came across Contiki University’s youth travel education advertisement.
The advertisement sounded interesting, according to Ms Schweizer, as it sought Gen Z and Millennials to apply as international students and learn about the history of countries, such as Greece and study on campus there.
The tourist aka student goes on a thrilling island hopping across the glimmering oceans at Mykonos and Santorini.
If she wants to do Major in European Studies, Ms Schweizer could go on Contiki University’s European Trail and get a crash course while touring 12 countries in 23 days.
A Major in Temple Architecture is an adventure tour of Thailand, Laos and Cambodia with a much wider map to navigate while discovering an ancient Asian culture.
Contiki’s educational travel campaign wasn’t intending to discourage formal tertiary studies, but rather to provide young Aussies feeling the budget pinch with ways to fulfill their dream overseas holidays.
“We’re not telling people to skip their studies however we are encouraging young Aussies to get out there and view education from a new perspective,” Contiki managing director Toni Ambler said.
“There is no better way to learn about history, culture, or even yourself, than by experiencing it and the world firsthand.”
A Contiki study has revealed that 54 percent of Gen Z and Millennials in NSW are putting the brakes on travel due to increasing costs of living, and 35 percent of them feel guilty using annual leave for fear of losing their jobs.
Ms Schweizer said she was fortunate to still be living with her parents and she was able to set aside money from her salary to go on a Contiki University tour.
“I earn a mid-weight salary between $60K to $80k a year, and half of it goes towards savings for traveling, and only recently started saving for a future investment property,” Ms Schweizer said.
“I also have personal bills such as finance, phone, board, gym, and groceries, which limits how often I’m able to travel.”
Ms Schweizer graduated with a Bachelor of Business degree majoring in human resources and enrolled with Contiki University’s New Zealand and the South Sea Islands History and felt it was “an amazing experience.”
“I gained heaps of knowledge about the country that I wouldn’t have been able to receive had I not gone through Contiki for my trip which was amazing,” Ms Schweizer said.
Eight courses to take student travellers to countries such as Europe, Croatia, South Korea, Africa and Mexico are now available for enrolment at Contiki University.
