Education Commons^™

Making Study Abroad Accessible For First Generation College Students, Nicolette J. Nelson

Culminating Experience Projects

This project examines the barriers first-generation college students face when studying abroad and what support services can be provided to mitigate those barriers. An intensive review of the literature revealed that many barriers hinder FGCS from studying abroad. A few that will be covered include financial constraints, familial support, and knowledge about studying abroad. The intentions of this project are to create a first-generation-centered study abroad presentation that will be a culmination of explaining different opportunities FGCS have when studying abroad, the resources there to support FGCS in their endeavors, and how studying abroad can positively impact FGCS. I also …

How A Study Abroad Program Supports Its Students Of Color: A Case Study, Hannah E. L. Bloom

Master's Theses

Students of Color study abroad at rates lower than their white peers, thus missing out on the academic, personal, and intercultural benefits one can gain from studying abroad. The purpose of this thesis was to conduct a qualitative case study to examine how a study abroad program supports its Students of Color during the pre-departure phase of study abroad. This case study uses Critical Race Theory as its theoretical lens. Research for this case study included interviews with four study abroad practitioners from one study abroad program, and a review of the study abroad program’s online spaces. This thesis endeavored …

Faculty Experiences Facilitating Study Abroad, Francis Edmond Dechert

Theses and Dissertations

Faculty who teach at the college level are often responsible for their own pedagogical training and development, and leading a short-term study abroad program may be one strategy for helping faculty with this development. This study explores the experiences of faculty who have led short-term study abroad programs and provides insight into how the experiences align with experiential learning models and ways that they can lead to pedagogical development. Nine faculty members were interviewed and asked questions about their teaching backgrounds, their introduction to study abroad, and their experiences related to teaching and learning while abroad. The findings show that …

Forming A Global Citizen: Personal Development Through Study Abroad, Anna L. Reiter

Honors Thesis

This literature review examines key benefits of studying abroad, while investigating which elements most contribute to students’ overall success. Current literature suggests that benefits of studying abroad include, but are not limited to, second language acquisition (SLA), identity formation, and intercultural competence. The degree of which each is improved depends on a multitude of variables. SLA improvement is explored via consideration of students’ baseline proficiency level, degree of receptivity of the host country, and length of the study abroad program. Students’ identity formation is explained through the three bases of identity: person, role, and group/social. Finally, intercultural competence in study …

Beyond Boarders For First-Generation Students, Nayeli Ortiz

Management Undergraduate Honors Theses

1. Tabeling at TRIO and Multicultural Center events

2. Require academic advisors to have at least one conversation with every student about studying abroad (never assume a student is not interested or unable to go)

3. Overtly feature first-generation study abroad students in social media and Hogs Abroad website.

4. Network interested students with students who have completed study abroad

5. Offer a promotional study-abroad program for first-generation students

6. Promote funding information and add more first-generation specific scholarships

Outliers To The Black Experience: Perceptions Of How Participation In Internships And Study Abroad Influences Black Students’ Development Of Career Readiness Competencies, Erica James Lake

Theses and Dissertations

Black students represent nearly 15% of the college student population, yet nationally only 6% of these students participate in internships and study abroad. Comparatively, White students represent approximately 52% of the college student population, and they represent over 70% of the students who participate in internships and study abroad. This is significant because internships and study abroad experiences can help students gain access to mentors and improve their retention and graduation rates. This study sought to determine if Black students believed they gained career readiness competencies during their experiences.

This qualitative study included interviews, observations and photos from Black seniors …

Opportunities In Study Abroad: Planning, Steps And Suggestions, Diana Saiki, Alyssa Dana Adomaitis

Publications and Research

Faculty lead field studies are supported at most universities, but they can be time consuming and daunting to plan. The benefits of study abroad experiences have been well documented (Livingmore, 2011). There is growing evidence that short term faculty lead field studies provide a positive outlook on the fashion industry (Boorady, et al., 2016). Furthermore, these experience enhance students’“cultural intelligence” or the ability to communicate with diverse cultures and work well in diverse cultural settings (e.g., Livermore, 2011, Rolling,Presley, & Thornton, 2018). There is some literature on faculty lead international experiences study the apparel industry, such as El Salvador (e.g.Ha-Brookshire,2008). …

The Impact Of Study Abroad As It Relates To Business Students' Career Paths, Madison M. Burgett

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

Business schools in the United States are continuously working to provide students with real-world experiences which will help them discern, and prepare for, their future careers. As globalization continues to increase the interconnectedness of the world, and of the companies within it, it is increasingly important that business students are globally aware and culturally competent. The aim of this study is to demonstrate that studying abroad enables business students to discern and prepare for their future careers. To demonstrate this, students and graduates of Butler University’s Lacy School of Business, with graduation years between 2012 and 2022, were surveyed. Those …

Spanish Language Development And Perceptions Of Undergraduate Students During Short-Term Study Abroad, Marissa Baugh

Transformations: Presentation Slides

The purpose of this evaluative case study is to determine how students from a 4-year medium-sized college in the northeast US who participated in a short-term study abroad program in Cuernavaca, Mexico perceived their experience as worthwhile in their education. This research seeks to answer the following questions: 1) How does short-term study abroad impact students’ perceived level of Spanish language proficiency?; 2) What are students’ thoughts about short-term study abroad with respect to their learning beyond their Spanish language development (e.g., financial investment, cultural appreciation, etc.)?; and 3) What are students’ overall perceptions of the short-term study abroad program? …

Students’ Reflection Of Cross-Cultural Experiences: A Study Abroad Narrative, Alexandra Dudley

Masters Theses

This study sought to explore the cross-cultural experiences of students who had studied abroad during their undergraduate college years. Previous research has shown the importance and impact of study abroad and cultural experiences on student development. A qualitative approach, specifically a narrative method, was utilized to best understand students’ stories and how they made meaning of their study abroad experiences. Four participants were interviewed one-on-one, and their stories or narratives are provided here. This study revealed that students studying abroad with adequate support will experience an array of cross-cultural influences that leave lasting impacts on their personal and professional lives.

Self-Authorship And The Effects Of Reverse Culture Shock In Post-Study Abroad U.S. College Students: Strangers In Their Own Land, Tarianne G. Cotton

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

Traditionally, in our globally diverse and intertwined society, study abroad has served as a valuable, enriching, and life-changing aspect of college and university offerings and opportunities for students. Today, the lives of post-study abroad students will be defined by the ways they make sense of unexpected major events surrounding the history-changing COVID-19 pandemic and the contemporary protests against racism and social injustice. A large body of research exists on study abroad, culture shock, self-authorship, provocative moments, cross-cultural reentry, and reverse culture shock. A lack of research exists on what ways post-study abroad U.S. students make meaning of their experiences in …

Defining Intercultural Competence: How Four Pre-Service Teachers Developed A More Complex Understanding Of Icc, Elizabeth C. Barrow

Department of Middle Grades and Secondary Education Faculty Publications

This manuscript is one part of a larger exploratory collective case study of pre-service teachers who participated in a student teaching abroad program for one-month in Germany. The objective was to ascertain if and how pre-service teachers with no prior training in intercultural competence (ICC) developed both their understanding and conceptualization of ICC. Data was collected before, during, and after the experience via focus groups, individual interviews, journal entries, and program evaluations. Data was analyzed using a priori codes compiled from Bennett’s (2008) characteristics of affective, cognitive, and behavioral competencies of ICC. Findings from this study indicated that a short-term …

A Mixed Methods Investigation Of Participation Of Black Students And Education Abroad, Stephen Ryan Hammock

Theses and Dissertations

The participation rate of Black higher education students in education abroad programs has been significantly compared to their White peers. The purpose of this concurrent mixed methods research study was to examine the participation rate of Black higher education students in education abroad programs by exploring student perceptions relative to barriers and motivations, utilizing the Cultural Approach as the conceptual framework, specifically the economic, social, and intellectual cultural spheres of influence. A web-based questionnaire with quantitative and qualitative items was completed by 248 Black participants and 206 White participants. The quantitative data were analyzed using two logistic regressions, and the …

Exploring How Faculty Motivations And Professional Development Strategies Influence Digital Literacy Practices In A Study Abroad Program In Italy: A Case Study, Paolo Bartolini

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative case study research was to explore the multifaceted motivations, perceptions and attitudes that influence digital literacy practices in a small group of study abroad faculty and how professional development can help inspire them to act to innovate their digital literacy practices within a study abroad context. The role of study abroad programs in the U.S. has grown significantly in recent decades. As the number of students participating in these programs continues to increase, so have questions about the role of digital literacy practices in foreign education. Digital literacy embodies a way of learning that focuses …

Constructed Borders In Higher Education: A Critical Policy Analysis Of Undocumented College Students' Access To Study Abroad, Louise K. Hon

Master's Theses

Abstract Between 2012 and 2017, undocumented youth in the United States with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival status were able to apply for Advance Parole permissions to travel abroad for educational purposes. During this time, DACA students attending colleges and universities across the nation engaged in study abroad through established education abroad programs. This qualitative study examines undocumented students’ decision to pursue educational abroad opportunities during their undergraduate education in the context of national, state and institutional policies and climate and compares and contrasts the experiences of the undocumented college students who successfully studied abroad with those who either attempted …

International Travel: A Quantitative And Qualitative Analysis About How Study Abroad Opportunities Enhance One’S Global Perspective And Self-Awareness, Kristen Zink

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Projects

As the world is becoming more interconnected, the importance of having a well-rounded, global education is necessary. To meet those needs, many students are electing to study abroad during their time in college. Although research has been done to examine the direct benefits of studying abroad, there has been little research done to differentiate the impacts of short-term and long-term study abroad. This research looked at how students reflected on both their short-term and long-term study abroad experiences and it examined the benefits of both lengths of travel. A quantitative analysis was done to analyze the benefits of short-term study …

Connecting The International Experience, Michelle Wong

M.A. in Higher Education Leadership: Action Research Projects

The purpose of this study was to explore how relationships between international students and study abroad returnees can further global education throughout the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) community. My overarching question was: how can I, as an advisor at the International Students and Programs Office (ISPO), create a program that fosters cross-cultural interaction between international students and study abroad returnees? A secondary question was: how can these interactions help cultivate the intercultural competencies of both parties? Using O’Leary’s Cycles of Action Research as a guiding framework, I conducted one pre-cycle, a needs assessment, and three cycles of data …

The Reentry Experience For Study Abroad Counselors-In-Training, Corinna Arndt

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Students often encounter difficulties upon returning home after a study abroad cultural immersion experience, but many counseling education programs provide limited or no reentry assistance. Despite this challenge, there is little research regarding the reentry process as students transition back into their home culture, as most research is focused on multicultural competency building. Thus, understanding the reentry processes can help students successfully navigate this important aspect of study abroad trips. To this end, a qualitative thematic analysis design was used to identify themes related to masters-level counseling students’ experiences upon returning home from a 3-week study abroad cultural immersion trip. …

Short-Term Athletic Foreign Tours And Student Learning Outcomes: A Program Evaluation, April L. Elsbernd

Dissertations

Many studies have shown that the same student learning outcomes observed in long-term study abroad can be met during short-term programs, if executed correctly. Intercollegiate athletic foreign travel tours (AFTs) are similar to short-term study abroad programs, but little research has been done on these programs. By analyzing qualitative and quantitative data from surveys of student-athletes who recently participated in AFTs, as well as interviews with relevant staff members, I was able to determine strengths of the program and identify areas for growth. The evaluation process shaped organizational change recommendations, along with an institutional policy that will allow the AFT …

Two-Way Cultural Transmission In Study-Abroad: U.S. Host Families And Japanese College Students In Short-Term Homestay Programs, Ramona Fruja, Joseph L. Murray, Junko Torii

Faculty Journal Articles

This study addresses a gap in the study-abroad literature, examining both student and host family experiences of two-way cultural transmission. Interviews, participant observation and reflective journals revealed both parties sought authentic cultural experiences, but implicit forms of cultural transmission in homestay rendered preconceived notions of authenticity elusive. This discrepancy held potential for growth in cultural understanding. The authors explore implications for program design and interpretation of outcomes.

Harold Brown, Harold Brown

Oral History

Harold Brown, PhD, taught philosophy as a faculty member at Pace University from 1969 to 2019.

Aoyama Gakuin University, Japan, Danielle Ponsot, Caleb Hansen, Dareana Roy

Presentations

No abstract provided.

Fnri: Nutrition Assessment And Monitoring Division, Philippines, Kathryn Hoffacker, Mckenzie Lindquist, Mimi Nguyen, Marcia Rolofson

Presentations

Poster created by students in the 2019 IWU Freeman Asia Internship Program.

Mission For Migrant Workers, Hong Kong, Adna Mujović, Shaela Phillips

Presentations

Poster created by students in the 2019 IWU Freeman Asia Internship Program.

Koding Kingdom And Being Black In Hong Kong, Jarlai Morris

Presentations

Poster created by students in the 2019 IWU Freeman Asia Internship Program.

Aoyama Gakuin University, Japan, Danielle Ponsot, Caleb Hansen, Dareana Roy

Presentations

Poster created by students in the 2019 IWU Freeman Asia Internship Program.

Mad Travel, Philippines, Leah Carter, Quentin Jackson, Emma Darragh

Presentations

Poster created by students in the 2019 IWU Freeman Asia Internship Program.

Mad Travel, Phillipines, Leah Carter, Quentin Jackson, Emma Darragh

Presentations

No abstract provided.

Lessons Learned From The British: The Liverpool Project, Claudia J. Mcvicker

Educational Considerations

Universities around the country are beginning to feel the need to add a global dimension to their programs. One way to prepare teachers to address the challenges associated with teaching children in a global age is through carefully structured, international study abroad where the candidates are immersed in another culture and school system. This article seeks to demonstrate how a successful Teacher Education study abroad program can develop and transform pre-service candidates’ global perspective. This qualitative study was informed by the use of journal writing to prompts by ninety-six teacher education students over three different summers to learn about the …

Building Resilience Through Strengths-Based Learning During Graduate Study Abroad: An Exploratory Study, Chelsea K. Dresen, Matthew L. Wilmes, Karen R. Sullivan, Theresa A. Waterbury

Leadership Education Capstones

Resilience has been identified as an essential skill for leaders (Basso, Gruendel, Key, MacBlaine, & Reynolds, 2015) and as crucial for navigating both school and life challenges (Yeager & Dweck, 2012). Research indicates that there are a variety of ways to build resilience, including in educational settings (Yeager & Dweck, 2012). Higher education institutions utilize pedagogical practices to maximize student learning and growth opportunities (Rennick, 2015). One pedagogical frame often employed is experiential education. College and university faculty have embedded experiential learning pedagogy in the curriculum to facilitate learning outside the classroom (Liang, Caton, & Hill, 2015; Jordan, Gagnon, Anderson, …