Student Mobility as a Complementary Training Strategy to Broaden Professional and Intercultural Perspectives

Abstract

The findings of a study conducted with a group of students who participated in an international exchange program are presented in this article. Its main objective was to analyze their experiences in student mobility, thus establishing a profile prior to the mobility, and the criteria about the expected impact upon their return based on the international experience at another institution and country where different environments exist, mainly in more advanced countries.

This was a descriptive and exploratory study; it used variables related to the entire process of the mobility, with open and closed questions and an intentional sampling of 37 participants, all of whom were beneficiaries of the international cooperation programs in Europe, Canada, the United States, and the OAS. The obtained results showed that the faculty members are a source of information, followed by the social networks, about the mobility opportunities available to the candidates.

In regards to the students’ expectations, they showed interest in academics, followed by the perspective of future employment , and living an international experience. In relation to what they considered to be their greatest learning experience, they included the following elements: autonomy, tolerance, respect towards gender equality, the capacity/ability to live in peace, having a multidisciplinary approach, experimenting new teaching methodologies and practicing a foreign language.

Keywords: Student exchange: people exchange programs, educational international cooperation, professional socialization, university students – El Salvador – social aspects, social interaction, social responsibility.

URI: http://hdl.handle.net/11298/1311

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5377/entorno.v1i76.17221