Assessing the Value and Effectiveness of Study Abroad and Exchange Programs in Foreign Language Degree Programs: A Case Study

Abstract

As study abroad efforts take on increased importance globally, it is vital that we use the resources of the academy to research the impact and effectiveness of these programmes. This paper assesses aspects of the varied exchange (EXC) programmes and study abroad (SA) programmes which exist at the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine campus (Trinidad y Tobago). Data was collected from among students in the French and Spanish degree programmes. The study sought to assess the academic benefit of the programmes while at the same time assess the value-added aspects of the programmes. Overall, it was found that the impact of these international experiences on student learning has not to date been assessed with an aim to making interventions in the varied programmes. As some previous reseach indicates, to simply send students to a location abroad for academic study is not sufficient toward facilitating the larger goal of creating effective global citizenship. Findings from this research lend empirical support to the notion that study abroad and exchange programmes at all levels facilitate the creation of global citizens. Key-words: Study Abroad, Exchange Programmes, Student Learning, Foreign Language Learning, Global Citizens.