According to new research, the difference between a student who spent two years in Turkey and a student who spent three weeks in Greece is surprisingly little.
A recent study conducted by the Study Abroad for Global Engagement project found short-term study abroad sessions produce just as much global awareness as long-term programs.
The study, conducted by SAGE researchers at the University of Minnesota, surveyed 6,400 graduates from 22 schools, all of whom participated in study abroad programs.
Elizabeth Stallman, lead research assistant on SAGE, explained the process.
"We asked people to give us examples of engagement behaviors, such as voting in an election, donating money and volunteer time and making purchasing decisions based on social or political values of a company," she said.
When the research team analyzed the results, they found no significant difference between alumni of short-term (three to six week) study abroad programs and those of long-term (semester or year) programs. The graduates also overwhelmingly cited their study abroad trips as the highlight of their college experiences.
"It's not whether it's short- or long-term, but there are other facts that affect how globally engaged a person becomes. The next step that we'd need to look into is what combinations of factors are at the root of global leadership and global engagement," Stallman said.
This is good news for study abroad participants at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. According to Christa Joy, Director of Study Abroad Programs for International Affairs at UNL, 75 percent of students who studied abroad last year participated in short-term, faculty-lead programs.
"I think the bottom line is finding a program that fits into (students') degree plans," Joy said.
Nate Burkman, a senior history and international studies major, traveled abroad for three weeks last summer through the faculty-lead Greek Odyssey Program, and plans to do so again with this year's China Global Challenges trip.
"I felt a lot more globally aware just from having done three weeks," Burkman said. "At first it didn't seem all that different because a lot of the people spoke English, but it was a different experience just to interact with another culture. It really opened my eyes."
SAGE study does not disregard the merits of long-term study abroad, however. It acknowledges that longer periods help improve language skills and an understanding of the nation's specific culture.
"We are not saying that people should not go abroad for a long period of time. We haven't measured language or culture … Our single interest was in global leadership," Stallman said.
Rather, SAGE emphasizes the importance of a quality study abroad experience.
Stallman said she hopes the research helps form better-crafted study abroad programs, no matter the duration. She also cited a bill which was discussed last year in the U.S. Senate that would democratize study abroad programs, allowing students greater say in length, price and activities.
"We certainly hope that this informs policy decision, whether on campus, federal or state level," she said.
IANSACKS@DAILYNEBRASKAN.COM
SAGE research website - http://cehd.umn.edu/projects/sage/team.html
Bill H.R. 1469 on study abroad - http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h110-1469
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