Study Abroad with The University of Delaware

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Study Abroad with The University of Delaware
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Study Abroad with The University of Delaware
1923 A junior year in France
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Study Abroad with The University of Delaware
Today still the nation's leader
In 2005/06, 43 of UD graduates studied abroad
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Study Abroad with The University of Delaware
Promises
.understand the cultural and physical world,
communicate clearly in writing and speech, and
develop into informed citizens and leaders.
(UD Mission statement) Develop an
international perspective in order to live and
work effectively in an increasingly global
society. (UD General Education goal 10)
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Faculty-led, Short-term Programs
Study Abroad with The University of Delaware

• 4-5 week programs
• Students accompanied by UD faculty
• Often involves guest lecturers from overseas
  location
• Students receive 6-7 cr hrs which apply toward
  their degree

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Study Abroad with The University of Delaware
Promises, Benefits and Limitations? How engaged
are students? Study Abroad Program vs Trip /
Vacation / Travel Program
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Global Awareness
Study Abroad with The University of Delaware

• Knowledge, Skills and Attitudes
• Acquisition of knowledge
• Involvement in multi-cultural (non-U.S.)
  activities
• Sensitivity to other cultures/countries issues
• Cross-cultural communication
• Understanding of global interdependence

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We Asked
Study Abroad with The University of Delaware

• One-page survey instrument 20 multiple choice
  items (Likert scale frequency) five
  demographic items one short answer
• Abroad 1506 valid responses from students on 71
  programs (03 and 04)
• On campus 815 valid responses from students in
  54 sections of 27 courses similar to those abroad
  (03 and 04)
• Survey administered at end of winter term
  (reflective), self perceptions
• Anonymous and voluntary

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Respondent Profile
Study Abroad with The University of Delaware

• Abroad
• 28 male vs. 72 female
• 44 arts and humanities social science 53
  natural science pre-professional
• 73 gpa gt 3.0
• 63 sophs. and jrs 8 freshmen

• On campus
• 43 male vs. 57 female
• 55 arts and humanities social science 44
  natural science pre-professional
• 55 gpa gt 3.0
• 56 sophs. and jrs 12 freshmen

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Looked up something on a map of another
country(responses expressed in percent)
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Developed greater appreciation for the arts
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Interested in attaining foreign language fluency
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Thought about similarities between self and
people from other countries
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Read article, watched TV show, or spoke to
someone about how Americans are viewed abroad
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Thought about why other countries have different
perspective than U.S. on global issues
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Most Important Thing Learned in Past Month
(Short Answer/Qualitative)

• Abroad
• Responses spread over broad range
• Course related knowledge (8)
• knowledge/ apprec. of other country/ culture
  (13)
• tolerance/patience (9)

• On Campus
• 62 of responses in only three categories
• course-related knowledge (45)
• current events (8)
• life lessons/adages (8)

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Some Additional Short-Answer Responses from
Students Abroad

• Course-related knowledge (8)
• Language/communication issues (8)
• Difference between home and host country (8)
• Acknowledgment of foreign views of U.S. (7)
• Knowledge of self (5)
• Trip and travel-related (5)
• Adaptability/flexibility (5)

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No Difference Between Abroad and On-Campus Groups

• Understanding of how foreign manufacturing
  impacts price of goods in U.S.
• Understanding of U.S. trade relations with
  another country
• Consciously withheld judgment on international
  event until gathered more info
• Looked up non-English word in dictionary
• Thought about current issue thats important to
  the people of a developing country
• No correlation between responses and number of
  times abroad

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Summary of Findings

• Short-term programs abroad have an impact on
  students that is not replicated on campus.
• Higher incidence of engagement in certain global
  awareness activities
• Perceived higher abilities or interest in certain
  international/global issues
• Reported learning in a broader range of
  categories more prolific about learning
• Number of times abroad did not matter

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Study Abroad with The University of Delaware
Antarctica Communications and Photography
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Tanzania Wildlife Conservation
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India Womens Studies
My previous thought processes were childlike.
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Taj Mahal
Ethiopia
Cairo
Forbidden City
India
Italy
Mon Village, Thailand
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New Zealand Agriculture
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Study Abroad with The University of Delaware
China Music Language History HESC
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New Zealand Marine Studies Geology
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Vietnam

• Ha Cong Nham, our host for lunch, was a
  decorated veteran of the North Vietnamese Army
  it was really cool to be able to talk to him
  about his experiences while we were drinking tea
  with him. He fought the Japanese in World War
  II, the French in the War of Independence and the
  Americans and S. Vietnamese in the Vietnam War.

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Vietnam
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Vietnam
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After returning from her study abroad program in
the South Pacific region, Casey - a freshman at
UD - wrote

• There is an atmosphere here that I have never
  experienced in America. I have learned my entire
  life that America is the land of opportunity. I
  guess that depends on how you define opportunity.
  We live by the motto if you work hard you will
  succeed. In most cases I still think that is
  true but now I worry I will not have the time to
  enjoy that dream. I am not sure you can ever
  have that feeling if you never leave the United
  States.