Educational Exchange Programs Research Articles

The Impact of Hu’s Music Diplomacy on Mongolia’s Tourism National Branding Program

This study aims to analyze the impact of Hu's music diplomacy on Mongolia's national branding program. The study employs a descriptive qualitative method with secondary data analysis from journal articles, books, relevant reports, and media covering The Hu's activities. The results indicate that The Hu, with their unique approach of combining traditional Mongolian music elements with modern rock, has successfully raised global awareness of Mongolian culture and enhanced the country's positive image. Their international performances received awards, and collaborations with renowned musicians have introduced Mongolian cultural elements to a wider audience, creating curiosity and appreciation for Mongolia's cultural heritage. Strategic recommendations include greater government support, enhanced collaboration with digital platforms, and educational and cultural exchange programs.

Women's Political Empowerment in Iraq After 2003

The degree of human development in any society is measured by the extent to which women participate in political life, and Iraqi women, together with many third-world countries, have suffered a real crisis concerning women's participation in the country's political life, and many factors have been played in reducing the share and size of women's participation in political life, including the growing role of the military in political life and the militarization of society during the eight-year war and subsequent events that led to the women's dissociation and reduction of their role. The role was only after women were granted no-election women share in Iraq's new constitution after 2003. Women's political participation is not only about obtaining their political rights but also about their political rights in the legitimacy of freely expressing their ideas within the framework of the institutions and groups of society and participating in political decision-making and practice. Therefore, women's political skills must be expanded by improving educational opportunities, leadership courses, and exchange programs, and removing institutional and legal barriers limiting Iraqi women's political participation.

Lines of Exchange: Australian and New Zealand Women on Carnegie and Fulbright Programme Awards c. 1930s–1980s

ABSTRACT Narratives of international educational exchange programmes such as the US–sponsored Fulbright and the Commonwealth–centred Carnegie grants reveal the formative role these exchanges played in extending the geographical, scholarly, and professional boundaries of women’s worlds. Notably, these award schemes influenced, shaped and expanded the career aspirations and professional experiences of a group of women from Australia and New Zealand. In this article, we take up the question of the distinctive opportunities each programme presented for women awardees and consider their differing experiences primarily due to the specific programme on which they embarked. We argue that the extent to which participation in an exchange programme might have provided benefits to individual Australian and New Zealand women could also become the spur for awardees to advocate for an expansion of opportunities for other women. Furthermore, we consider whether hidden obstacles existed that hindered women’s career pathways and successes.

Cultural Diversity & Policy Making: India’s G-20 Presidency.

India's policy, diplomacy, and international outreach endeavours are shaped by its cultural diversity and richness, which presents the nation's distinct identity to the globe. The main issues covered in a number of topics are summarized in this abstract, including cultural diplomacy, policies influenced by diversity, India's soft power potential, and methods for promoting Indian culture internationally. India has the potential to be a soft power due to its rich cultural legacy, dynamic democracy, and long history. India has demonstrated its power to affect global agendas and perceptions through cultural, diplomatic, and economic methods through projects such as its presidency of the G-20. India promotes its ideals of inclusion, tolerance, and respect for all people by utilizing its rich cultural legacy to build international collaboration and ties. India's foreign policy is based on cultural diplomacy, which allows the nation to present its rich history and customs to the world. India facilitates intercultural discourse, strengthens interpersonal relationships, and advances a more comprehensive comprehension of its multifaceted cultural mosaic through the organization of cultural exchanges, festivals, and exhibitions. India connects with global audiences through cultural centers, educational exchange programs, and internet outreach to promote awareness and recognition of its cultural richness. India's diverse culture has an impact on policy in a number of areas, including social welfare, language, education, and healthcare. India undertakes programs to protect minority rights, encourage linguistic variety, and incorporate indigenous knowledge systems into governance and development strategies because it understands the value of protecting and developing cultural heritage. India keeps its promise to social justice and inclusivity by tackling socioeconomic inequalities and empowering neglected populations. There are many different ways to promote Indian culture internationally, ranging from digital outreach and cultural diplomacy to supporting the cultural industries and encouraging tourism. India uses its cultural resources to draw visitors, present its artistic creations, and promote cross-cultural exchange via international cultural institutions, festivals, and exhibitions. India's attempts to promote its unique cultural history are strengthened when it collaborates with international organizations, educational institutions, and diaspora populations. This increases global appreciation and recognition of India's cultural outreach. In summary, India's cultural diversity and richness are important advantages that help to shape its foreign ties and global identity. India bolsters its soft power and promotes more understanding, collaboration, and harmony in an increasingly interconnected globe by embracing its cultural history, fostering cultural exchange, and interacting with global audiences.

UNOFFICIAL CULTURAL AMBASSADORS: EXPLORING THE EXPERIENCES AND PERCEPTIONS OF MALAYSIAN STUDENT SCHOLARS IN AMERICA

International educational exchange programmes promote a person’s intellectual development and cultural understanding, which could also foster mutual cooperation and stronger diplomatic ties between countries. Through these programmes, students can socially interact and learn about others from diverse backgrounds. However, the rise of Islamophobia after the September 11 attacks has inculcated the fear of “the Other” and limited the number of Muslim students allowed to study in America, as Muslim culture and religious values are popularly perceived as incompatible with American values and thus viewed as a threat. This study contributes to the literature of diplomacy by highlighting the experiences of sixteen Malaysian scholars sponsored by the Malaysian government and the challenges they experienced during their educational exchange in America. The aim of this qualitative study is to understand the experiences of Malaysian student scholars by identifying: (1) how they initially perceived America; (2) their motivations for wanting to study in America; (3) the challenges they faced; and (4) how their experiences transformed them. The study found that many students faced initial struggles with racism, cultural challenges, and difficulty in achieving cultural assimilation. However, they were able to overcome misperceptions and negative stereotypes. The findings highlight the positive impact of their academic and cultural exchange, its success in reducing divisiveness, and the influence of soft power in strengthening relations between America and Malaysia.

A Critical Analysis of the Fulbright Program from a World Systems Perspective

The Fulbright Program is the United States’ flagship educational exchange program. Since 1946, the program has been heralded as a program that promotes mutual understanding across cultures. However, the Fulbright Program’s role as a U.S. Department of State initiative warrants further examination of how this educational exchange program functions as a foreign policy effort on behalf of the United States. This mixed methods study uses data presented in five years of data available in the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board’s Annual Reports of the program. The study finds seven themes present in the written content of the annual report: Human rights, peace and security; access, diversity, and opportunity; collaboration and partnership; mutual financial investment; excellence as a result of Fulbright; program impact; and solving global problems.

Reflections of American and Turkish Fulbright alumni: An International context in language teaching assistantship

With the increasing global change and as a consequence of internationalization, the prestige of international educational exchange programs has heightened with bilateral agreements among countries. In parallel, plenty of research in academia has resided on Fulbright language assistantship programs whereas most have been designed on pre-service teachers, and a limited number centred on in-service teachers only from one country context. However, almost no studies have been done on international alumni from two countries to compare the perceived impact of this program through their lenses. Hence, six Turkish FLTAs and six American ETAs were incorporated into this qualitative case study to determine the influence(s) of their personal background information on this cross-cultural experience, and the effects they sensed on their teaching profession with Fulbright. Having conducted semi-structured interviews and sifted data through content analysis, the researcher noted its effects on the personal, linguistic, cultural, social, and contextual understandings of scholars. Moreover, professional growth, student-oriented active learning, and dynamic perspectives were described as themes outlining its reflections on their teaching profession. ETAs felt they cultivated “pedagogical content knowledge”, “soft skills”, “enhancing student motivation” and “adjusting teaching to supply student needs” more, whereas FLTAs reported a higher sense of development in “critical thinking skills”.

Analysis of Cross-Cultural Communication Using the DEMATEL Method

Cross-Cultural Communication encompasses a diverse range of interactions within cultural contexts, involving the exchange of ideas and emotions. This exchange can occur through both verbal and non-verbal means, encompassing various cultural norms, values, and customs. Effective communication is integral in numerous contexts such as business, education, healthcare, and social organizations, and is particularly crucial in our interconnected world, where individuals with diverse backgrounds frequently engage. In this globalized landscape, cross-cultural communication stands as an indispensable tool for successful interaction and mutual understanding. Awareness of Cultural Differences: Understanding that different cultures have distinct communication styles, norms, and etiquette is fundamental. This awareness helps in avoiding misunderstandings and misinterpretations. Language Proficiency: Language is a primary tool of communication. While English is often used as a global lingua franca, it's important to recognize that not everyone may be equally proficient. Accommodating different levels of language proficiency is crucial. Motions, posture, reactions to situations, even eye contact are all examples of communication that is not verbal. convey a significant portion of a message. These can vary widely across cultures and can sometimes lead to misinterpretations. Listening Skills: Actively listening and paying attention to verbal cues, tone, and non-verbal cues is crucial. It helps in understanding not only the words being spoken but also the underlying feelings and intentions. Respect and Open-Mindedness: Respecting and valuing different cultural perspectives is key to successful cross-cultural communication. Being open-minded and curious about other cultures fosters positive interactions. Avoiding Stereotypes and Assumptions: Making assumptions based on stereotypes can lead to misunderstandings. It's important to approach each individual as just that—an individual with unique experiences and perspectives. Cross-cultural communication research holds a profound significance in our increasingly interconnected world. It serves as a crucial foundation for fostering understanding, tolerance, and cooperation between people from diverse cultural backgrounds. In a globalized society where individuals and groups regularly interact, the research equips us with essential insights into the nuances of communication across cultures, helping to mitigate misunderstandings and conflicts. Beyond interpersonal interactions, it plays a pivotal role in promoting successful international business relationships, enhancing diplomatic ties, and ensuring the efficacy of educational exchange programs. Moreover, it contributes to the creation of inclusive environments, where diversity is celebrated, and individuals from various backgrounds can thrive. In healthcare, cross-cultural communication research is vital for delivering equitable and effective services, and it also aids in the resolution of conflicts by considering cultural perspectives. This research, spanning multiple academic disciplines, has far-reaching implications for enhancing the quality of our personal, professional, and societal interactions. Cultural Sensitivity Training, Awareness of Cultural Differences, Language Proficiency, Non-Verbal Communication and Listening Skills. the Rank using the DEMATEL for Cross-Cultural Communication. Cultural Sensitivity Training is got the first rank whereas is the Awareness of Cultural Differences is having the Lowest rank.

Comparative Study of Higher Education System Between India and Germany in the Present Era

The study paper provides a comparison between the higher education system of India and higher education system of Germany in respect of aims and objectives, structure, curriculum, opportunities and current issues or their common focus areas in the present era. The paper also gives a glimpse of history of higher education in ancient India-the era when India used to provide world class higher education and also history of higher education of Germany. The data are collected from primary and secondary sources. The methodology adopted for the study is documentary analysis. The results reveal that both India and Germany have same type of educational structure comprising of bachelor degree, master degree, doctoral and post-doctoral programs and emphasize on professional expertise but India focuses primarily on theoretical knowledge and democratic values inculcation, science and spiritual education and Germany focuses chiefly on practical implementation of theoretical knowledge, skill development, research and innovations, capacity building in higher education, forming intellectual property, entrepreneurial development, creating diversity of people and ideas, promoting global citizenship and societal sustainability. The USP of German higher education is that quality higher education is provided at a very low cost or no tuition fees charged at the world class German universities, offers diversified course, dual study programs and a lot of flexibility like switching major and education policies are formulated frequently considering the present need and demand. Recently both countries’ focus areas are digitalization of higher education, teacher improvement program for higher education, internationalization, foreign students and faculty exchange programs, increase in spending on education and decentralization of higher education. The paper concludes with India being a largest democracy and one of the developing nations, Indian higher education system can consider German higher education system as a benchmark and can imbibe the positive qualities for improvement and enrichment.

Implementation of the strategy of internationalization of higher education as a «soft power» tool of the state

Introduction. The following article analyzes the interpretations of the concept of «soft power» implemented in the field of Russian higher education. In connection with the discussion in scientific circles of the ambivalence of the concept of «soft power» from the moment of its appearance and in the subsequent period, various interpretations of opposite and complementary concepts with the word «power» are given here. The components and functions of «soft power» reflected in the documents and concepts of the state»s foreign policy are considered. Purpose setting. At present, when political and economic sanctions have also changed the landscape of international educational cooperation, the possibilities of the «soft power» tools of our state have been significantly decreased. Methodology and methods of the study. As a tool for promoting cultural values and ideals, higher education accumulates opportunities for cultural, scientific, technical, socio-political and economic impact on the individual and society. Results. The communication space of Russian universities will be able to integrate a new rational discourse through delivering various educational exchange programmes and cultural, educational projects, with the involvement of modern information communication technologies. The implementation of this task requires the strategic development of the internationalization of higher education. Conclusion. Cooperation in various fields of science and technology remains an important tool for improving international political stability and mutual understanding. Germany is an example of successful development and promotion of national ideas and interests, i.e. increasing the «weight» of the state in the international arena through education. At the same time, the main function of «soft power» is performed in latent form, when the influence of the state is not straightforward, but hidden.

Regional problems of foreign languages education (by the example of the Crimea)

The article addresses the problem of foreign language education that is still very important in the country. The problem concerns teaching, learning, and improving foreign languages, from a starter level (development of basic skills such as speaking, reading, writing, listening) to a proficiency one (language-specific skills in translation studies and applied linguistics). The author aims to investigate the issue from different sides. To explode them, the author used data from official web site of the Russia Government, methodological guides, professional forums. The findings showed that laws prescribe the rights and duties of each participant in the educational process and officially all the fine points are considered. In accordance with legislative acts, every Crimean can learn several languages from early childhood. The law takes care to increase the level of teaching: it provides training of highly qualified teachers, guarantees technical assistance, equipment and material support and helps to develop exchange programs. However, there are certain difficulties with the implementation. Main reasons for this include poverty of educational institutions, weak academic mobility of students and teachers, ill-conceived exchange programs, low motivation, moral and material. Thus, in conclusion the author provides some recommendations. First, to work more carefully on the development of mandatory and additional training programs. Second, to become more responsible for issues of professional orientation. Third, to provide better teaching and learning conditions for teachers. Fourth, to expand education exchange programs.

Od propagande do javne diplomatije: Jesu li programi razmjene srušili Hladni rat?

During the Cold War public diplomacy was far more advanced, dynamic, and all-inclusive than we give credit. The Cold War shaped domestic and foreign policies for many decades, worldwide. With the United States and the Soviet Union as the main protagonists of the bipolar world, using international broadcasting shaped the attitudes of the countries in a favorable stance for the two superpowers, to comply with the competing ideologies. This article investigates the role of public diplomacy through media, education, and cultural programs, and the role they played in bringing down the Cold War. Educational and Cultural programs played an especially influential role in the superpower’s strategies and competing agendas on who wins more hearts and minds. Through the use of historical research methods, combined with discourse and content analysis of books, archived official documents, podcasts, newspapers, and publications, draw a pattern of empowerment and transformation of such tools as propaganda into public diplomacy, which in the beginning deepened the distance between East and West, while later was used to win hearts and minds. As this article analyzes, public diplomacy played an important role during the Cold War, emerging in the initial years of the war itself. Through a sophisticated strategy of using common bridges among people as a connection such as science, music, sports, and education exchange programs, considered at that time to be entirely divided from the political sphere, the United States as the leading Western democracy managed to get into the hearts and minds of the Soviet people. Among the most popular models of using public diplomacy was that of a hostile nature of relationships, intending to achieve results in foreign publics. The hypothesis was that if the images persuaded the targeted foreign public of the other side, they would pressure their governments to change their hostile positions and politicize toward the other side. Public diplomacy was that counterbalance to nuclear power competition, which was dominated by campaigns that aimed to gain influence and win the support of the international global society, and it inspired different countries, to use different tools to achieve their international goals. Programs such as the Fulbright, International Visitors Program, and “People to People” program, founded with the purpose to promote the United States' goodwill through educational exchange programs in the field of culture and science, philanthropy, and humanitarian activities, changed the perspective of communication and understanding between the United States and other nations, but also as an important step toward world peace. In the meantime, this strategy eroded the foundations of Soviet ideology and was considered by Soviet diplomats as a Trojan horse that caused the fall of its entire system. This article also investigates how propaganda transformed into public diplomacy and became institutionalized and recognized as a powerful tool through which states can maintain relations with one another in the spirit of cooperation. The analysis concludes that public diplomacy was one of the main factors that melted the iron division between the U.S and the USSR, yet brought down the Soviet Union itself.

Research on the effect evaluation of the implementation of educational exchange programs between Chinese mainland, Hong Kong and Macao

Since the 18^th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the Ministry of Education has launched the "Teachers and Students Exchange Plan among Colleges and Universities in Chinese mainland, Hong Kong and Macao " and "Construction of 'Sister Schools' Platform for Primary Schools and Kindergartens in Chinese mainland, Hong Kong and Macao", promoting the vigorous development of educational exchanges and cooperation among Chinese mainland, Hong Kong and Macao, and laying a foundation for the growth and development of young people in Hong Kong and Macao. It is of great significance to carry out project implementation effect evaluation by using CIPP evaluation mode, comprehensively summarizing project development experiences, exploring characteristic projects and typical cases, deepening typical demonstration, refining scientific and effective project management model, promoting the quality and efficiency of projects and promoting the integration of Hong Kong and Macao into the overall development of the country.

CREATIVE INDUSTRIES AS A MECHANISM OF CREATIVE ECONOMY AND STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS

In a period of crisis – namely, a pandemic and martial law – the economy is transforming into a system where the main driving forces are the exchange of knowledge, its mutual evaluation, where creativity and creative industries play a significant role, which ultimately form the creative economy, which economist and sociologist Richard Florida called "the new economic era of the 21st century". The purpose of the scientific work is to analyze the tools of Ukrainian creative industries that contribute to the production of a new cultural product or service, have a semantic load, are a resource for strategic communications and increase the potential of the creative economy in martial law (on the examples of successful Ukrainian cases of creative industries in the crisis period). The methodology of the study is based on a combination of systemic and value-based approaches, as well as discourse analysis, which together contribute to the disclosure of structural relationships in the ecosystem of the creative economy (in particular, social capital, entrepreneurial culture, state and international support, innovation potential, reputational capital of Ukraine in the world), their correlations with the peculiarities of national political and economic development and global trends, in particular in times of crisis, such as pandemic and wartime. The scientific work traces the genesis of the formation of a conceptual understanding of the creative economy and creative industries in the Ukrainian dimension, which contains legislative (Order of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine No. 265-r "On Approval of Economic Activities Related to Creative Industries", the Law of Ukraine "On Amendments to the Tax Code of Ukraine and Other Laws of Ukraine on State Support of Culture, Small Business and Creative Industries in Connection with the Implementation of Measures Aimed at Preventing the Occurrence and Spread of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)", etc.), terminology (the meaning of the concepts of "creative product", "creative industries", "project", "institutional support grant", etc. was clarified), social and institutional (creation of the Public Union "Center for the Development of the Creative Economy", the National Bureau of the EU program "Creative Europe" in Ukraine, the Startup Fund, the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation (UCF), etc. Special attention in the scientific work is paid to the anonymous online survey of the UCF together with the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine of creative entrepreneurs and creative professionals, which was conducted among UCF 2020-2022 applicants on the state of culture and creative industries during the war (June 2022) in order to form a recovery and strengthening plan, which identified the following needs: transparent competition for managerial positions, restructuring of the management vertical of the industry, international educational trainings and exchange programs for artists and managers of the creative sector; co-production and cooperation in international projects; emphasis on cultural factors in the state international policy; strategy of state support, minimization of document circulation. The analysis of successful Ukrainian cases of creative industries allowed to outline the tools for the development of the creative economy in the crisis period: monetization of hobbies, innovative entrepreneurship, business clustering (in particular, the idea of a cluster of creative industries), brand collaboration, craft production, creation of cultural products such as books, grant/fund support and others, on the terms of donation to support the humanitarian and military needs of Ukrainian society. And the recently created podcast "Frontline of Creative Industries" about the success stories of representatives of this industry, who with their projects resist Russian aggression and support the economy and the institution of national identification of Ukraine, opens up prospects for further analysis of such tools as crowdfunding, revitalization, development of creative clusters of Ukrainian business.

კადრი, როგორც კოვიდის რეალობაში ურთიერთობის ენა

The world suddenly faced the new reality by the end of 2019. Coexistence with the virus (COVID-19) endangered the human wellbeing and his spiritual, physical and all other important components necessary to live. There is hardly found any sphere not affected by this virus. The architecture is also not an exception in this viewpoint. COVID-19 damaged the architecture in different directions: education had become wrapped, the educational exchange programs were stopped, architecturally important cities and monuments remained without visitors. Biennials were postponed, the format of conferences were changed – the open communication was replaced by the distanced one. All international borders were closed for researchers, scientists and travelers. The world started to find ways to live and survive in this different reality, the various spheres started to make new planning to fit the new reality. We think that for the architecture it is important to enhance already wellprobed methodology – the frame as the communication language until we farewell with COVID-19. The methodology is widely used as in science as well in visual art. In this scientific work we discuss the role of photography and aerial photography for systemic analysis of architect concept on the example of Egyptian pyramids by using the mentioned research methodology.

Finding “Otherness” in Music and Pedagogy: A Critical Ontological Analysis of an Immersive International Music Education Exchange Program

This study sought to investigate how a cohort of American preservice graduate students in music education reconceptualize their pedagogical lens after participating in an immersive cultural music exchange program in China. By embracing a critical ontology framework, we interwove Western ways of knowing alongside local knowledge to examine the ways in which participants explored their cultural competence through self-reflection. Data indicated that participants in this study were receptive to non-Western social and musical experiences within learning environments that minimized power dynamics, such as peer-to-peer instruction and informal music making. This finding suggests that music teacher educators preparing a cultural immersion program could construct multiple types of learning opportunities in an effort to build preservice teachers’ cultural competence. In addition to careful research, design, and implementation of immersion programs, music teacher educators might also prepare students for the messiness of the cultural competence work, including cultural misunderstandings, issues of authenticity, and varying interpretations.

Chinese Preservice Teachers' Perspectives of Mentoring Relationships in an International Learning Partnership.

Mentoring is an essential fixture of teacher education. With growing opportunities for international learning exchanges, there is a need to better understand how cross-cultural mentoring can be characterized by reciprocal learning. This study investigated mentee perceptions of the mentoring relationship in an international, cross-cultural teacher education exchange. We conducted research among 19 Chinese preservice teachers who participated in an international teacher education exchange program, exploring their perspectives on the cross-cultural mentoring relationship and mutual learning. Our findings suggest that learning outcomes are improved in a mentoring relationship when there are strong relational ties, opportunities for reciprocal learning, and a greater awareness of cultural complexity. We contend that there is value in supporting the mentoring relationship directly, which has implications for both international exchanges and teacher education programs.

Virtual Adaptation of an International Exchange Program in Medical Education.

Medical education has drastically transformed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Measures such as adopting telemedicine visits, minimizing the number of trainees on service, discontinuing external rotations, and converting in-person to online didactics have been broadly and swiftly implemented. While these innovations have promoted greater interconnectivity amongst institutions and made continuing medical education possible, international exchange programs in medical education are still largely disrupted. In response to the changing guidelines and restrictions necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic, the authors used Kern’s six-step approach to design and implement a virtual curriculum to replace the in-person activities of the 2020–2021 Neurology Peru-Rochester exchange program (NeuroPro). Twenty-seven trainees participated in this virtual adaptation. The average daily attendance was ≥85% and the program was rated 9/10 on average in a feedback survey (63% response rate). The median percentage of correct answers during the pre-test was 64% and it increased to 79% during the post-test (P = 0.003). Virtual adaptation of international exchange programs in medical education is feasible to safely continue international collaborative efforts to promote symbiotic building of local expertise and cross-cultural exchange during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.

Increased breastfeeding; an educational exchange program between India and Norway improving newborn health in a low- and middle-income hospital population

BackgroundThe purpose of the project was to improve newborn health in neonatal care units in a low resource area with high neonatal mortality, predominantly by better nutrition and educational exchange of health care workers.MethodA fourfold program to make human milk production and distribution feasible and desirable. 1 Education to enlighten health care workers and parents to the excellence of human milk. 2 Lactation counselling to address the various challenges of breastfeeding. 3 Improving infants´ general condition. 4 Infrastructure alterations in the hospital. A collaboration between hospitals in India and Norway.ResultsThe number of infants receiving human milk increased pronouncedly. Systematic, professional lactation counselling, the establishment of a milk bank, and empowerment of nurses was perceived as the most important factors.ConclusionsIt is possible to greatly improve nutrition and the quality of newborn care in low/middle income settings by optimising human resources. Viable improvements can be obtained by long-term health partnership, by involving all hierarchal levels and applying locally developed customized methods.

Educational Travel Programs, Sustainability, and the Environment

This Special Issue seeks to contribute to the growing body of literature that considers and examines the multiple ways that educational travel programs (ETPs), such as study abroad, service learning, and educational exchange programs, educate students about environmental and sustainability issues, as well as how the programs themselves interact with these same issues [...]