Advocates of study abroad tout its advantages to students, saying it arms them with cultural skills critical in a global workplace. But new research from the Rotterdam School of Management suggests this isn’t always so.
Where students go and for how long can make a difference, a study of 1,000 study-abroad students and alumni found. Those who went to lower-income or socialist countries, especially in Africa, Asia, and South America, saw fewer cultural and professional benefits. That may be because it was more difficult for the students to appreciate the host culture and interact with local residents. Students who travel abroad for shorter periods or on programs in which they mainly interact with other study-abroad students may also benefit less.
Read more at The Chronicle of Higher Education: http://chronicle.com/blogs/ticker/benefits-of-study-abroad-are-not-universal-paper-says/92287