INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE: AN APERTURE TO COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND SELF DISCOVER : Students' Exchange Experiences from African Countries
Sapkota, Shree Newas (2015)
Sapkota, Shree Newas
Diakonia-ammattikorkeakoulu
2015
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2015111716611
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2015111716611
Tiivistelmä
Sapkota, Shree Newas. ‘’International exchange: an aperture to community development and self discover’’: Students’ exchange experiences from African countries. 65 pages. 1 appendix. Language: English. Autumn 2015. Diaconia University of Applied Sciences. Degree Programme in Social Services. Degree: Bachelor of Social Services.
International exchange is a platform where a student encounters various diversities in order to increase his/her understanding of other culture, religion, communities, society at different levels and languages. These encounters not only develop skills in his/her professional and personal life but also provide an opportunity to be involved in different community development work using various approaches. International exchange gives perspectives to students. Hence, this exchange is crucial for the students to work in various fields of social work.
This is a qualitative research. The aim of the research was to find strengths and weaknesses students discover about themselves during their international exchange in African countries. This research has further discussed about community development approaches they learn during the exchange and a brief comparison has been made with practices in Finland. The research group of this research were the students of Diaconia University of Applied Sciences who have had been participants of international exchange programme of the school.
Three methods of data collection were taken for the research; Interviews, email questionnaire and personal observation. A focus group discussion and one face-to-face interview was done. Email questionnaire was sent to 6 respondents. In order to analyze the collected data, content analysis was used as a method for the interpretation.
The results of the research indicated that international exchange is useful and beneficial for students to sharpen their personal and professional skills. The exchange can be an eye opening for the students to learn various community development approaches in diverse contexts. In addition, this research has listed some of the strengths students gained after the exchange and weaknesses they discovered about themselves during the period. This research has further made some critical perspectives of the international exchange.
Key words: international exchange, exchange students, community development work, community development approaches
International exchange is a platform where a student encounters various diversities in order to increase his/her understanding of other culture, religion, communities, society at different levels and languages. These encounters not only develop skills in his/her professional and personal life but also provide an opportunity to be involved in different community development work using various approaches. International exchange gives perspectives to students. Hence, this exchange is crucial for the students to work in various fields of social work.
This is a qualitative research. The aim of the research was to find strengths and weaknesses students discover about themselves during their international exchange in African countries. This research has further discussed about community development approaches they learn during the exchange and a brief comparison has been made with practices in Finland. The research group of this research were the students of Diaconia University of Applied Sciences who have had been participants of international exchange programme of the school.
Three methods of data collection were taken for the research; Interviews, email questionnaire and personal observation. A focus group discussion and one face-to-face interview was done. Email questionnaire was sent to 6 respondents. In order to analyze the collected data, content analysis was used as a method for the interpretation.
The results of the research indicated that international exchange is useful and beneficial for students to sharpen their personal and professional skills. The exchange can be an eye opening for the students to learn various community development approaches in diverse contexts. In addition, this research has listed some of the strengths students gained after the exchange and weaknesses they discovered about themselves during the period. This research has further made some critical perspectives of the international exchange.
Key words: international exchange, exchange students, community development work, community development approaches