Higher education students' experiences of a short-term international programme: Exploring cultural competency and professional development

被引:9
作者
Blankvoort, Nadine [1 ]
Kaelin, Vera C. [2 ,3 ]
Poerbodipoero, Soemitro [1 ]
Guidetti, Susanne [4 ]
机构
[1] AUAS, Fac Hlth, Sch Occupat Therapy, Amsterdam, Netherlands
[2] Zurich Univ Appl Hlth Sci ZHAW, Sch Hlth Profess, Inst Occupat Therapy, Winterthur, Switzerland
[3] ULC, Coll Appl Hlth Sci, Rehabil Sci, Chicago, IL USA
[4] Karolinska Inst, Dept Neurobiol Care Sci & Soc, Div Occupat Therapy, Huddinge, Sweden
关键词
Cultural competency; international experience; healthcare professional education; professional identity; student reflection; higher education; OCCUPATIONAL-THERAPY;
D O I
10.1080/00131881.2019.1632725
中图分类号
G40 [教育学];
学科分类号
040101 ; 120403 ;
摘要
Background: Globalisation trends such as increased migration to and within European countries have led to even greater cultural diversity in European societies. Cultural diversity increases the demand of cultural competency amongst professionals entering their work field. In particular, healthcare professionals need knowledge and skills to equip them to work with clients from different cultural backgrounds. Within higher education (HE), the professional development of cultural competency should ideally feature in undergraduate education and is often promoted as a by-product of a study abroad period. However, recognising that logistical and financial barriers often exist for extended study abroad, one alternative approach could be participation, at home or abroad, in a short-term international programme set within students' own HE institutions. Purpose: The aim of this study was to explore HE students' experiences of participating in international 'short-term mobility week' programmes at three European universities. Methods: Each university involved in the research offered short-term programmes for healthcare professions students at their own institution, where both local students and students from abroad could participate. Participants were healthcare students in the programme at one of the three universities. Data were collected through focus group interviews (4-8 students per group; n = 25). The data were transcribed and then analysed qualitatively, using a content comparison method. Results: The analysis identified six categories, which reflected students' journeys within the short-term international experiences. Conclusions: The analysis suggested that, for these students, engagement in a short-term mobility week programme provided valuable opportunities for encounters with others, which contributed to personal and professional development, greater confidence in the students' own professional identities, as well as an increasing sense of cultural awareness.
引用
收藏
页码:356 / 370
页数:15
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