The Study Abroad Programme: Experience and Benefits

Abstract

Many universities across Australia encourage their students to seek out an international experience during their programme of study (Griffith University, Global mobility: a student’s guide. Griffith University, Brisbane. Retrieved from https://www.griffith.edu.au/international/global-mobility, 2015; Deakin University, International students. Retrieved from http://deakin.edu.au/students/studying/international-students, 2016; Queensland University of Technology 2016, Blueprint 5. Retrieved from https://cms.qut.edu.au/_data/assets/pdf_file/0013/71113/qut-blueprint, 2016; Curtin University, Australian outbound student mobility: quality dimensions for international fieldwork in health sciences, 2015). According to Trede et al. (Intercult Edu 24(5):442–445, 2013), international experiences provide an enormous potential to prepare students for an intercultural globalised world of work. In this chapter the literature on study abroad programmes is discussed. This is followed by an analysis of data collected from 53 domestic Australian students who have completed a study abroad experience. This is a collective case study (Stake RE, The art of case study research. Sage Publications, Thousand Oaks, 1995) with all 53 students contributing to the data collection from three programmes. Findings include the fact that students had a strong belief that their international experience would benefit them in finding employment after university; and students valued the unique experience offered to them through their international work experience in the overseas universities and schools. Having had an international opportunity was seen to be of significance for these students and opened their minds to new cultures and ideas.