This article places the historical events that have influenced the rationale of study abroad programming in U.S. higher education, throughout the twentieth century, within the framework of Baudrillard's theory of hyper-reality. The intent of this paper is not to repeat Hoffa's (2007) and Hoffa and DePaul's (2010) comprehensive two-volume history…

In this essay, I argue that Ethnic Studies-based approaches to racism and colonialism can improve student learning during study abroad. These approaches can further extend learning impact beyond that of diversity, equity, and inclusion goals. I outline how every host site can support attention to race and colonialism, explain the dangers of…

Mindfulness has become a popular topic of intellectual and experiential study in multiple disciplines, including healthcare, business, education, and various human service professions. We designed a study abroad experience where undergraduate and graduate students from various human service disciplines engaged in academic study, personal…

The purpose of this study was to identify experiences gained from acculturating into the Italian food culture by American university students studying abroad in Italy. The Socio-Ecological Model (SEM) guided focus group discussions with students during the fall of 2022. A total of five groups with 29 students participated. The primary influence on…

The present study explores the distinct aspects of adolescents' experiences during their stay abroad in comparison to university students. Specifically, it investigates the evolution of adolescents' social networks and questions the applicability of Coleman's (2013) three concentric circles model to high school students. Drawing on the narratives…

The purpose of this research is to identify common meanings and experiences of students regarding their career outlook within the retail, hospitality and tourism sector who had the opportunity to engage in a three-week study abroad as an experiential learning activity. Through an in-depth understanding using qualitative focus groups with 13…

This study investigated the social interactions of Pakistani students with their Turkish friends at a Turkish host university, Middle East Technical University (METU). The article describes the nature of the communication between students from different backgrounds from the perspective of Pakistani students, focusing on communication occurring in…

Although study abroad is an established research context for second language acquisition, the emotional experiences of U.S. students learning less commonly taught languages, such as Czech, require further research, particularly in settings where these languages lie outside students' primary academic pursuits. This study explores U.S. students'…

In a unique learning context, language-positive environments outside the classroom, not enclosed instruction on U.S. campuses, education abroad foreign language instructors develop distinct teaching practices. Education abroad researchers have accounted for informal learning opportunities, yet few have attended to onsite language instruction. This…

Study abroad travel by plane forms the largest component of a programme's carbon footprint. This paper stresses the importance of embedding climate action into study abroad and outlines climate action steps for on-site programmes in Europe to become more sustainable, including 1) calculating carbon footprints, 2) reducing emissions, 3) offsetting…

This article explores pre-departure resources and student preparations for study abroad in France. It does so through a mixed-method investigation of university and program provider resources as well as social media content. Both university and program provider resources confirm a common adherence to established topics according to international…

As primary architects of the 'global classroom,' local faculty who teach visiting U.S. students at study abroad centers across Europe play a critical role in the study abroad experience. This article draws on theories of commodification in study abroad as well as transformative learning theory to unpack how and why local faculty bend to the U.S.…

This article explores the experience of U.S. education abroad in Europe from the perspective of local partnership delivery models and addresses the question: How has study abroad in Europe changed over the past decade, what are the current trends, and where is it heading? Two models of university-based education abroad in Europe are highlighted,…

Europe remains the top destination for U.S. university students seeking a global academic experience with over 64% choosing European programs. Despite surface-level cultural similarities, U.S. students often face challenges navigating the deeper sociocultural dynamics and differing approaches to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) within…

Resident directors (RDs) in Europe manage a university in a microcosm--overseeing academic affairs, student affairs, finances, facilities, human resources, legal issues, and health and safety. Literature on the RD role remains scarce, and we sought to fill this gap by examining the lived experiences of 22 RDs in Europe. Our phenomenological study…