International education study tours abroad: Students' professional growth and personal development in relation to international, global, and intercultural perspectives

This study investigates the impact of international education study tours abroad on American students. The inquiry focuses on how an overseas education program impacts international, global, and intercultural perspectives of the student, and whether the professional growth and personal development of the participants reflect these changes.;Students who go abroad experience new cultures, personal growth, and academic learning. Study tours abroad provide an introductory educational opportunity to enhance international and global perspectives. The study tour fosters the context and occasion for cross-cultural living and potential growth and development in intercultural perspectives.;This qualitative inquiry utilized a purposeful sample from The Ohio State University Social Studies Education Study Tours Program for the selection of participants in this study. The maximum variation sample of six participants provided representation in each of the following areas in proportion to the total study tour population: age, gender, minority, level of education, and vocation. The methods for data collection included interviews, focus groups, and study tour group diaries.;The study applied qualitative methods of analysis with a pragmatic perspective of process/outcomes to investigate the impact of a study abroad program upon the participants. The research analysed the participants' experiences by cross-interview comparisons to determine commonalities and differences that characterized the individuals and the impact of the study tour program.;The findings of the study indicated that the participants experienced changes in their professional growth and personal development in the themes of international, global and intercultural perspectives relating to the individual participant and the program design. Key factors influencing the impact of study tours abroad related to the maturity of the student, participation in multiple study tours, minority experiences, geographic location of the study tours, level of immersion, and the focus of the study tour program.;Implications and recommendations for international education overseas study tours include further research into study tours abroad to understand the impact of geographic locations. The influence of study tour abroad programs on the professional growth and personal development of minority participants also needs further research. I suggest continuing examination of the influence of overseas study tours on international, global, and intercultural perspectives of the participants including an additional focus of mature students.