An Amplified Experience: A Phenomenological Study of Studying Abroad During the COVID-19 Pandemic
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.36366/frontiers.v34i4.756Keywords:
COVID-19, Education Abroad, International Education, Student Affairs, PhenomenologyAbstract
COVID-19 largely brought U.S. education abroad to a halt. As universities and education abroad organizations bolstered risk management policies, students slowly returned to study abroad programs. Our phenomenological study explored the meaning that students who studied abroad during the pandemic gave to their experiences. We found that the essence of the phenomenon was an amplified version of the meaning that students gave to pre-pandemic study abroad experiences.
Abstract in GermanDer Ausbruch der Covid-19-Pandemie hat US-Austauschprogramme weltweit nahezu zum Erliegen gebracht. Nachdem Universitäten und Austauschorganisationen ihre Richtlinien für ihr Risikomanagement verschärft haben, kehrten Studierende langsam zum Angebot von Auslandsaufenthalten zurück. Unsere phänomenologische Erhebung hat die Bedeutung untersucht, die Studierende, die während der Pandemie im Ausland eine Hochschule besucht haben, ihrer Auslandserfahrung zugeschrieben haben. Wir sind zu dem Ergebnis gekommen, dass jene Studierende dem Format eines Auslandsaufenthalts eine noch größere Bedeutung beigemessen haben als es Studierende bereits vor der Coronakrise getan haben.
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