Abstract
This article presents a study that presents an analysis of the long-term effects of study abroad on students from Elmhurst College Honors Program alumni from the classes of 2005-2014.
Highlights
Introduction “Study abroad enables students to experience an interconnected world and to embrace difference rather than being threatened by it; it shows them the collective heritage of mankind” (Wolfensberger, 281)
Of the 165 respondents, 116 identified as female. This 70% is only slightly higher than that within Elmhurst College's general student body which is approximately 65% female; it is consistent with the fact that the National Collegiate Honors Council (NCHC) reports female students comprise 65% of nationally recognized Honors Programs and Colleges (“NCHC”)
The items with the highest levels of positive response provide valuable data. These percentages were high for all respondents, both study abroad (SA) and NSA, especially for the first two activities: 81% of all respondents voted frequently or sometimes in elections, relative to domestic issues; and 65% made a purchasing decision because of the values of a corporation, domestically. (The high response for these two activities echoes the Murphy, et al study findings.) Both of these results indicate a relatively high degree of civic awareness and engagement that might be anticipated within a population of Honors Program alumni
Summary
Introduction “Study abroad enables students to experience an interconnected world and to embrace difference rather than being threatened by it; it shows them the collective heritage of mankind” (Wolfensberger, 281). Numerous studies have been conducted confirming the personal, professional, and societal value of study abroad for undergraduates by international educators, researchers, and major study abroad providers such as International Education of Students (IES), School for International Training (SIT), and International Student Exchange Programs (ISEP). The SAGE project focused on identifying long-range impacts of study abroad experiences, hypothesizing and confirming the personal and social value of study abroad for undergraduates in five domains: civic engagement, knowledge production, philanthropy, social entrepreneurship, and voluntary. DeGraaf, et al expanded upon SAGE further, examining the personal impact of a semester-long study abroad experience among students at a small liberal arts Midwestern college, and the long-term professional impacts.. More data is needed to substantiate what many employers and international educators already suspect regarding the longer-term impacts of an international experience on college graduates of the 21st century if increased resources are to be secured
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