Broadening student horizons with international

experiencesAlison Southwell & Jason Condon

“The world was my University” Gandhi

“There is no longer a clear division between what is foreign and what is domestic. The world economy, the world environment, the world AIDS crisis, the world’s arms race – they affect us all” Bill Clinton, 1993.

Overview:

1. Purpose2. Where we went3. What we saw4. Survey results5. Individual feedback6. The value of international study experiences in Agricultural

education and student development

• 21 students & 2 lecturers

(14 men, 9 women)

• 95% rural/farming background

• Around 25% had travelled internationally – none to a developing

country

• At least 3 students had never been on a plane

before.

Aims/purpose of the trip…

1. Increase student knowledge of international agricultural systems (tropical systems)

2. Broaden students’ “global mindedness” or world views

3. Increase student confidence

4. Increase collegiality amongst students

5. Improve student experiences/course satisfaction (marketing spin-offs)

Cần Thơ

Ca Mau

Phu Quoc

Ho Chi Minh City

Vung Tau

Where we went in Vietnam: The Mekong delta

What we saw: Cần Thơ University

College of Agriculture, Can Tho University

• Rice production

• Acid sulfate soils

Dutch lady dairy company

• Recreation time…

Survey outcomes

bustling

welcoming

smelly lush

adve

nturous

rich cu

lture

dirty

astonish

ing

traditional

surreal

poverty

strick

en

dynam

ic

spectacu

lar

Jungle-lik

e

Polluted

Beautiful

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

Expectations/experience of Vietnam in general

Pre % Post %

%

happy

friendly

kind

poorpro

udsim

plewarm

relaxe

dDirt

y

Poor sen

se of h

umour

Beautiful

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

Expectations/experience of the People

Pre% Post %

%

Survey outcomes

relaxe

d

unsophisticat

ed

small-

scale

complex

constrain

ed

intensiv

e

sustainab

le

unsustainab

le

Ecologic

ally r

esponsib

le0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

Expectations/experience of their Agriculture

Pre% Post %

%

poor

family

oriented

diverse ric

h

friendly

Socia

lhecti

c

Relaxe

dPro

ud

primitive

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

Expectations/experience of their culture

Pre% Post %

%

Individual feedback

Individual feedback

“I am now aware of the struggles in agriculture in a developing country. I am happy to pay taxes to receive the benefits that we do in Australian Ag.”

This was an affordable and totally different culture to what we’re used to. – A Learning experience on so many levels.”

“This opened many people's eyes to a totally different style of living”“This trip opened my eyes to a different world.”

“It was great to really get to know the other students and even the lecturers!”

“If you behave and know the rules, then nothing to worry about. Must be careful though.”

• The number of students that would contemplate working overseas increased by 50%.

Value of international study experiences in Agricultural education & student development

• Younes & Asay (2003) state that there are both intentional and incidental learning that occurs on both conscious and unconscious levels during international study tours.

• The study tour achieved all its intentional aims1. Increase student knowledge of international agricultural systems (tropical

systems)2. Broaden students’ “global mindedness” or world views3. Increase student confidence4. Increase collegiality amongst students5. Improve student experiences/course satisfaction (marketing spin-offs)

– but also much incidental learning occurred

Younes, M. N. & Asay, S. M., (2003) The World as a Classroom: The Impact of International Study Experiences on College Students. College Teaching, 51

Incidental learning outcomes

• Increased awareness of other cultures made them evaluate their own cultural beliefs

• Helped clarify career goals/professional aspirations

• Better thinking skills– Multi-disciplinary integration– Deeper understanding of

complexities & realities– Decision making

• Experienced group dynamics– Negotiate their own personal

needs– Tolerate opposing views– Manage difficult personalities

• Personal growth/self discovery– Unearthed new personal

insights– Gained new perspectives– Discovered ethnocentric beliefs– Realised their own competence

Planning has begun for 2010…