Jafari and Transformation: A model to enhance short-term overseas study tours

Abstract

This paper promotes the Jafari tourism model as a framework to understand the various stages of the student and staff travel experience while participating in an outbound mobility experiences (OME). Working through each of the components of the Jafari model allows recognition of the changing needs and requirements of both students and staff throughout an OME and the tensions that accompany this relationship. Drawing on experiences gained from the development and implementation of a two-week OME to Vietnam offered annually between 2011 and 2015, this paper will demonstrate how the Jafari tourism model can be used in relation to OMEs.