Assessing the Added Value of Global Mobility Versus Local Experience

Abstract

Although the data for this study were collected some time ago, the recent publication of the Erasmus Impact Study (European Commission, 2014) has made it worthwhile reflecting on results from this research to add to the body of knowledge on the impact of study abroad on the development of a young individual (see also Brandenburg et al, this volume). It was designed as a comparative study by the Hanze University of Applied Science (UAS). The benefits of a study period or internship abroad were compared with undertaking the same activities in the student’s home university or home country. The aim was to test these benefits through four categories of factors: 1. (English) language proficiency 2. Personal development 3. Professional development 4. Development of a multicultural personality. Two types of activities were investigated, study abroad and internship, both with an average length of one semester. The activities were evaluated empirically, by means of a survey distributed in the Spring semester of 2007. To measure the benefits of a study abroad period, respondents were approached twice: before the beginning of the semester (for the test group, this implies before going abroad), and at the end of the semester (test group: after returning home). Two groups of students were created: • A test group: students that went abroad for study or internship. • A control group: students that did not go abroad but, instead, stayed “at home” either to study at their home university or to do an internship in The Netherlands. In total, 2878 students were approached: 714 students in the test group and 1870 students in the control group. The response in the test group varied from 40.8% in the pre-test to 34.0% in the post-test. The response in the control group was somewhat lower than in the test group (22.1% pre-test and 15.1% post-test).