The Value of International Experiences for Business Students: Measuring Business Student Attitudes toward Study Abroad

The value of an international experience-especially for students of business-continues to be an area of focus at colleges and universities. Students across all disciplines within the business curriculum: accounting, economics, finance, management, marketing, or sport management are expected by employers to possess knowledge of and appreciation for, other cultures. Using as a backdrop two unique study abroad programs that immerse students into an intercultural business experience and have them interacting with-and learning from-the local residents as well, the survey research in this study measures student attitudes before and after they study abroad and it notes the changes that students report in their personal and professional knowledge, skills, and abilities. The findings of this research can reshape the way in which colleges and universities market these important international experiences. Through this research, we found that factors that prohibit students from studying abroad have more to do with individual social anxiety (i.e. doing something without their friends) than anxiety based on intercultural factors (i.e. language, culture, and distance from home)