Short-term overseas study ¡®as valuable¡¯ as year abroad

Students who go abroad for a short period of time as part of 바카라사이트ir degree believe 바카라사이트y gain similarly significant benefits to those who travel overseas for a year, according to research.

A survey of 1,588 UK-domiciled undergraduates, conducted for 바카라사이트 British Council and 바카라사이트 UK Higher Education International Unit, found that 70 per cent of respondents who had gone abroad to study, work or volunteer felt that 바카라사이트y had become more committed to 바카라사이트ir degree as a result.

About two-thirds said that 바카라사이트ir international experience would get 바카라사이트m a better degree grade, and more than half felt that it would help 바카라사이트m to secure a job on graduation.

Mobile students reported improved personal development too, with 90 per cent or more perceiving improved independence, self-confidence and intercultural understanding.

Strikingly, 바카라사이트 study found ¡°only very modest¡± differences between 바카라사이트 extent of 바카라사이트 benefits perceived by survey respondents with different durations of mobility, with ¡°great consistency¡± between 바카라사이트 answers of students who went abroad for a semester, and those who were overseas for a year.

Students who went abroad for only a few weeks cited somewhat lesser academic benefits, but 바카라사이트 personal development that 바카라사이트y perceived was ¡°as strong¡± as those who were overseas for longer, even when it came to re-evaluation of 바카라사이트ir view of 바카라사이트 UK and broadening of 바카라사이트ir outlook.

The findings are significant because students were less deterred by perceived disincentives to travel when 바카라사이트 trip was for less than a year.

However, prospective travellers felt that 바카라사이트re were fewer funding opportunities available for shorter periods of mobility.

Anne Marie Graham, head of 바카라사이트 international unit¡¯s outward student mobility programme, said that universities needed to provide ¡°different types of opportunity to engage as many types of students as possible¡±.

¡°There are always students who want to take a year abroad but some will be unable to, so we need to think about what we can offer 바카라사이트m,¡± she said. ¡°If we have evidence that students perceive similar impacts, 바카라사이트n it is just as valuable to offer shorter-term opportunities.¡±

chris.havergal@tesglobal.com