Letting it sink in: The longer-term impact of a social work short-term study abroad course

Abstract

Short-term study abroad courses are increasingly common in higher education, but while brief, can deeply impact students’ cultural appreciation and competence. This qualitative study explored 17 former Master of Social Work students’ experiences one to two years after completing a study abroad course on human trafficking in India. Data was analyzed using thematic analysis and three themes emerged: Considering my Positionality, Personal Transformation, and Taking Action. There were three levels of taking action: some students found ways to use the learning in their professional setting, others found it encouraged them to speak out against injustice, and some actively engaged in some form of advocacy. Mezirow’s theory of transformative learning was used to frame and explore the findings.