Assessing the Impact of Study Abroad on Student Learning at Michigan State University

Authors

  • Edward C. Ingraham
  • Debra L. Peterson

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.36366/frontiers.v10i1.134

Keywords:

Study Abroad, Student Learning, Assessment

Abstract

Michigan State University (MSU) is strongly committed to the idea that study abroad is deeply beneficial and important for undergraduate students. However, there is a relative scarcity of systematically gathered qualitative and quantitative information that assesses the impact of study abroad. In the summer of 2000, MSU implemented a broad plan to design and put in place mechanisms for continuously assessing the impact of study abroad on students, on faculty, and on MSU as a whole. An institutional assessment committee was established to oversee the project, setting the general direction and goals of the project, with the day-to-day responsibility for the activities of the project delegated to staff members.

The project has proceeded inductively; that is, inferring general results from specific student and faculty responses. The results of the project were obtained primarily for internal MSU use. Therefore, while we recognize that our conclusions may be similar to some to be found in the literature, the discussion presented here is limited to these internal results, and not intended to be comparative. To this end, we have not undertaken a search of the existing literature in order to provide a bibliography and citations.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biographies

Edward C. Ingraham

Edward C. Ingraham, Professor Emeritus of mathematics at Michigan State University, served as acting director of MSU’s Office of Study Abroad from March, 2000 through August, 2001. Subsequently, he was appointed Senior Adviser in International Studies and Programs and coordinated MSU’s project to assess the impact of study abroad on students, faculty, and the university as a whole.

Debra L. Peterson

Debra L. Peterson is Assistant to the Dean for International Studies and Programs at Michigan State University, where she co-coordinates MSU’s Study Abroad Impact Assessment Project, and administers the development and approval process for international linkages. She has also served as the communication and marketing specialist in MSU’s Office of Study Abroad. Her research interest is how students decide to study abroad and the implications for communication and marketing strategies.

References

There are no references in this article.

Downloads

Published

2004-08-15

How to Cite

Ingraham, E. C., & Peterson, D. L. (2004). Assessing the Impact of Study Abroad on Student Learning at Michigan State University. Frontiers: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Study Abroad, 10(1), 83–100. https://doi.org/10.36366/frontiers.v10i1.134

Issue

Section

II. Accounting for Learning Across Several Domains