Developing Short-Term Study Abroad Programs: Achieving Successful International Student Experiences

Abstract

Most business schools in the U.S. are employing various initiatives to “internationalize” their curriculum in order to prepare students to participate more effectively in a globally interconnected business world. An integral part of these initiatives is to encourage more students to participate in study abroad programs. Though it may be optimal for students to study abroad for a semester or more, many students do not have the time, resources or confidence to commit to a long-term experience. Consequently, short-term two to three week study abroad programs (SSA) are often a viable and worthwhile experiential alternative. Often, the process of developing a short-term study abroad experience can be daunting. We use a case study approach to examine how short-term study programs were initiated, planned, organized and implemented in five countries - Malaysia, Singapore, Chile, Germany and Australia. These programs were led by business faculty, at an AACSB accredited Midwestern University, each of whom also had prior experience in conducting study abroad programs. These faculty leaders provided detailed accounts related to each of the programs. A guide using probing questions was prepared through a triangulation process that included the faculty leaders and an administrator that had reviewed and audited 12 previous short-term study abroad programs. Drawing on actual SSA experiences and outcomes, this paper proposes a SSA framework consisting of planning, marketing, conducting and evaluating stages that can make the study abroad process understandable, efficient and easier to implement.