Evaluating the Long-Term Impact of a Taiwanese Study Abroad Program on Participants’ Career Choice and Professional Development

Abstract

A convergent, mixed methods study was used to explore the long-term impact on career choice and professional development in healthcare among Taiwan Study Abroad (TWSA) program participants between 2011 and 2015. Data were analyzed by prior study abroad and travel to Asia experience. We conducted an online survey in 2017 (n=38). Overall, 77-87% of the participants reported high impact on both career choice and professional development. Chi-square analysis showed that those who had not studied abroad before or traveled to Asia prior to the TWSA experience were significantly more likely to report the program had a more direct impact on their career choice. Qualitative data strongly supports the significant impact on both outcomes among all participants. Abstract in Chinese 這個收斂型混合方法設計研究探討 2011 年至 2015 年間台灣留學 (TWSA) 計劃參與者對醫療保健相關職業選擇和專業發展的長期影響。數據通過之前是否有到國外學習或亞洲旅行經歷進行分析。我們在 2017 年對所有參與者進行了一項參與後的網路問卷調查（n=38）。總體而言，77-87% 的參與者表示（本台灣留學計劃）對職業選擇和職業發展都​​有顯著性影響。卡方分析表明，那些在參與本台灣留學計劃體驗之前沒有出國留學或去過亞洲的人，有更高可能性報告該留學計劃體驗對他們的職業選擇有更直接的影響。定性（質性）資料分析結果也同時強烈支持本台灣留學計劃對參與者的職業選擇和專業發展都有重大影響。