OneUK Collaborators serve as international host sites for UK Explore First Program
Three OneUK collaborators hosted University of Kentucky students at their international offices in May as part of UK’s Explore First Program, an education abroad initiative designed specifically for first-generation college students.
Catalent, Fidelity Investments and Valvoline™ Global Operations welcomed students to their offices in London and Dublin, giving participants direct exposure to global career environments as part of the three-week program.
Explore First combines international cultural experiences with career exploration. Students earn academic credit while visiting professional sites and engaging with international employers. The program is designed to remove financial and logistical barriers that can prevent first-generation students from participating in education abroad programs.
“Catalent was excited to participate in the UK Explore First Program because we believe in helping students see the many possibilities available in the life sciences industry,” said Andi Kaplan, senior director of human resources at Catalent. “While we're proud to showcase opportunities right here in Kentucky, we also wanted students to experience the global nature of our business. By connecting them with our team in Swindon, UK, they were able to see how each Catalent site offers unique technologies, experiences and opportunities to make an impact for patients around the world.”
About 25% of UK undergraduates are the first in their families to attend college. University officials say high-impact experiences such as education abroad have been shown to increase student retention and graduation rates.
“Our Valvoline team members enjoyed sharing their experiences and mentoring the students,” said Mihaela Petrova, senior HR manager at Valvoline Global Operations. “This has led to greater employee engagement and a sense of pride. Employees presenting to students gained valuable experience in public speaking, coaching and representing the business. This, in turn, contributes to the development of leadership and communication skills.”
The corporate site visits also address a gap in professional exposure. Many first-generation students lack access to industry networks through family connections. Visits to international offices of companies such as Valvoline Global Operations, Catalent and Fidelity Investments provide direct access to career paths students may not otherwise encounter.
“As our next generation of future leaders, we hope students left with fresh inspiration, new insights and a greater sense of what they can achieve,” said Victoria Redgrave, head of UK business management and strategy for Fidelity Investments.
The collaboration is an example of the OneUK model, which connects the university with corporate collaborators to support student success and workforce development. In addition to benefiting students, the site visits help build brand recognition for the three companies among UK’s undergraduate population.
The University of Kentucky's Explore First Program is administered through the university's education abroad office. For more information on OneUK partnerships, visit here