Short study tours abroad: Internationalizing business curricula

Abstract

One constructive strategy for internationalization of higher education curricula is to include a study tour abroad within the course offerings. The focus of this research was to investigate if students perceived a difference in their interpersonal attitudes towards host and home cultures after completing a two-week study tour in Bordeaux, France. Semi-structured interview were employed to identify this factor, as well as (i) the motivation to participate; (ii) satisfaction with the delivery expectations; and (iii) to establish if this mode of delivery facilitates effective knowledge acquisition and enhanced learning. The findings indicate that students undertaking a short study tour abroad perceived positive changes in terms of cultural awareness and interpersonal attitudes. Recommendations are made and the findings provide a foundation for encouraging tertiary institutions to have a greater participation in, and commitment to, this experiential learning activity in order to embed and enrich internationalization in teaching and learning in future tertiary education business curricula.