Are We Making the Right Choice to Go for International Exchange Programs?

Almaz M. K. Chak; Shige Makino

Almaz M. K. Chak and Shige Makino

The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Volume 5: 2010, pp. 145-160; ABSTRACT

This study examined whether international exchange programs should continue to be treated as the core experiential learning activity in business study programs in universities in Hong Kong. We proposed that students' preferences, their career orientations as well as the potential learning outcomes of the activity be treated as the determinants. The study identified several benefits, in addition to the "well understood" benefits of foreign language proficiency and cultural awareness. We found that the self-directed learning skill, a competency crucial for students when pursuing global careers or lifelong learning, could be cultivated more effectively through such experiential learning activities as international exchange programs and local internships rather than traditional classroom teaching approaches. Interestingly, the findings showed that both international exchange programs and local internships could foster this critical competency. Considering that local internships are much more affordable to most students, the findings warrant attention for decision making of "out-of-classroom" programs in curricula design.

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