OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES: A STUDY OF UNDERGRADUATES’ EXPERIENCES OF BECOMING GLOBAL CITIZENS

Back to Page Authors: Amy Shumin Chen

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Keywords: globalization, student’s global mobility, study abroad, pedagogy

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Abstract: This study examines the study abroad experiences of undergraduates, explores the values students place on being global citizens from their perspectives, and gives them a voice to express the way they think of themselves as members of the broader world community. The research was conducted by interviewing students who had studying abroad experience. It aims to open a debate about the meaning and understanding of student’s global mobility, which is based on the opinions and values of college students who had either long- or short-term study abroad experiences. The study shows that students have grasped the transformation of globalization and are concerned with their competitiveness on the global stage. They pointed out that their higher education courses were lacking in providing enough opportunities for students to encounter the broader world. These students often had to cope with culture shock issues such as the way they interacted with classmates, attitudes about contributing to society, and the linguistic barrier to communication due to not knowing the local language well enough. Proposed changes can start by having professors, for example, bring the reality of other cultures into the students’ learning process, show their students the common values and competencies of modern college students around the world, and facilitate and encourage critical thinking.

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