Exploring Education Beyond the Classroom: Experiences From the Malaysia-Indonesia Student Exchange
Abstract
Student outbound activities offer unique opportunities for experiential learning beyond the traditional classroom setting. These activities, ranging from international exchanges to community projects, are instrumental in developing students' key skills such as cultural awareness, adaptability, and global citizenship. They foster a firsthand approach to education, encouraging students to engage with diverse environments and challenges, thereby enhancing their academic and personal growth in real-world contexts. This study explores the perceptions and experiences of students participating in a four-day academic exchange outbound program between the Faculty of Accountancy at Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Malaysia, and the State Islamic University of North Sumatera Medan (UiNSU), Indonesia. Engaging 14 students with bachelor’s in accountancy, five lecturers from Malaysia, and 40 students with 18 lecturers from Indonesia, the program encompassed community service, innovation projects, and cultural activities. These activities aimed to enhance cultural understanding, academic collaboration, and a platform for experiential learning, crucial in today’s increasingly interconnected world. The study employs a mixed-method approach, utilizing questionnaires and interviews, to explore students' perceptions of short-term inter-country academic exchanges. The results of the independent t-test indicate no significant differences between the perception of respondents from UiTM and UiNSU in both categories assessed, community service and innovation competition. Additionally, outbound activities contribute to students’ educational and personal development, fostering community service and encouraging cross-cultural interaction through innovation competition. The study highlights the potential of short-duration academic trips to educational contexts in Southeast Asia, underscoring their importance in enhancing the global readiness of university students
Downloads
References
Alber-Miller, N. D., Prenshaw, P.P., & Straughan, R.D., (1999). Student perceptions of study abroad programs: A survey of U.S. College and Universities, Marketing Education Review, 9(1), 29-36. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/10528008.1999.11488657
Anderson, P., Lawton, L., Rexeisen, R., & Hubbard, A.C. (2006). Short-term study abroad and intercultural sensitivity: A pilot study. International Journal of Intellectual Relations, 30, 457-469. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijintrel.2005.10.004
Bretag, T., & Ven Der Veen, R., (2015). “Pushing the boundaries”: participant motivation and self-reported benefits of short-term international study tours. Innovations In Education and Teaching International, 1-9. DOI: 10.1080/14703297.2015.11.1118397 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/14703297.2015.1118397
Byun, K., Hong, B., Lee, H., Lap, T, N., Nordin, M, N., Purnomo, E, H., & Jaisut, D. (2024). Higher Education Forum. 21
Donnelly-Smith, L., (2009). Global learning through short-term study abroad. Peer Review, 11(4), 12.
Evans, J., Finch, J., Toncar, M.F., & Reid, J.S., (2008). Student perceptions of and preferences for a short overseas study tour. Contemporary Issues in Education Research, 1(3), 11-18. DOI: https://doi.org/10.19030/cier.v1i3.1190
Fisher, C., Hitchcock, L., I., Mock, S., Nayer, A., Moore, S., & Marsalis, S. (2022). Does Faculty-Led Short-Term Study Abroad Improve Students’ Global Competence? Findings From a Systematic Review and Evidence Gap Map. The Interdisciplinary Journal of Study Abroad. 35(1), 417-452. DOI: https://doi.org/10.36366/frontiers.v35i1.727
King, R., & Ruiz-Gelices, E, (2003). International student migration and the European “Year Abroad”: Effect on European identity and subsequent migration behavior. International Journal of Population Geography, 9. 229-252. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/ijpg.280
Kwon, K.-S. (2013). Government policy and internationalization of universities: The case of international student mobility in South Korea. Journal of Contemporary Eastern Asia, 12(1), 35-47. http://dx.doi.org/10.17477/jcea.2013.12.1.035 DOI: https://doi.org/10.17477/jcea.2013.12.1.035
Katy, L., Theresa, P. M., Gary, B., Larry, D., James, L., Christi, E. (2024). Comparing Influence and Value Based on Study Abroad Program Types. Frontiers: The interdisciplinary journal of study abroad, doi: 10.36366/frontiers.v36i1.795 DOI: https://doi.org/10.36366/frontiers.v36i1.795
Lee, K.H., & Tan, J.P., (1984). The international flow of third lesser developed country students to developed country: Determinants and implications. Higher Education, 13, 687-707. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00137020
Lipsett, A. (2008), October 16. Graduates who have studied abroad are more appealing to businesses. Retrieved from http://www.guradian.co.uk/education/2008/oct/16/studentshighereducation.
Martin, S. (2022). Repurposing Universities for Sustainable Human Progress. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13504622.2022.2120965
María, Esther, Gómez, Martín. (2022). (5) Fostering university networks and entrepreneurship education programs: the case of the EntRenew Project at Ideas UPV. doi: 10.5821/conference-9788412322262.1254 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5821/conference-9788412322262.1254
Olsen, A., (2013). 2013 Research agenda: Australian universities international directors’ forum. Presentation to Australian International Education Conference. Retrieved from http://www.spre.com.au/download/AIEC2013AUIDFResearchPaper.pdf
Chaika, O. (2023). Key advantages of multiculturalism for foreign language teaching and learning. Gumanìtarnì studìï: pedagogìka, psihologìâ, fìlosofìâ, doi: 10.31548/hspedagog14(1).2023.119-128 DOI: https://doi.org/10.31548/hspedagog14(1).2023.119-128
Pitman, T., Broomshall, S., McEwan, J., & Majocha, E., (2010). Adult learning in educational tourism. Australian Journal of Adult Learning, 50, 119-238.
Praetzel, G.D., and Curcio, J., (1996). Making study abroad a reality for all students. International Advances in Economic Research, 2 (2). 174-182. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02295057
Sachau, D., Brasher, N., & Fee, S. (2010). Three models for short-term study abroad. Journal of Management Education, 34, 645-670. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1052562909340880
Salisbury, M., An, B., & Pascarella, E., (2013). The effect of study abroad on intercultural competence among undergraduate college students. Journal of Student Affairs Research and Practice, 50, 1-20. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/jsarp-2013-0001
Scharoun, L. (2016). Short-term study tours as a driver for increasing domestic student mobility to generate global work-ready students and cultural exchange in the Asia Pacific. Perspectives: Policy and Practice in Higher Education, 20(2–3), 83–89. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13603108.2015.1075917
Searle, W., & Ward, C., (1990). The prediction of psychological and sociocultural adjustment during cross-cultural transitions. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 14, 449-464. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/0147-1767(90)90030-Z
Smith, R., & Khawaja, N., (2011). A review of the acculturation experiences of international students. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 35(6), 699-713. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijintrel.2011.08.004
Spencer-Oatey, H., & Dauber, D. (2019). The gains and pains of mixed national group work at university. Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development. http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/74479
Suhaimi, A. R., Nadia Zawani, H., Hasfalina, C. M., & Ras Afirina, R. (2023). Empowering Outbound Mobility students towards future talents: Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) experience. Gading Journal for Social Sciences, 26(Special Issue AIMS), 99-105.
Toncar, M.F., and Reid, J.S., (2004). Study abroad: Business student perceptions and preferences, Proceedings, Emerging Issues in Business and Technology, Ed. October 28, 185-192.
Van Hoof, H.B., & Verbeeten, M.J., (2005). Wine is for drinking; water is for washing: Student opinions about international exchange programs. Journal of Studies in International Education, 9, 42-61. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1028315304271480
Yin, R. K. (2017). Case study research and applications: Design and methods (6th ed.). SAGE Publications.
Yu, S. (2023). Reversed Student Mobility: Canadian Exchange Students’ Motivations for Studying in Mainland China. Journal of International Students, 13(4), 88–106.
Copyright (c) 2024 Nor Aishah Mohd Ali, Siti Anis Nadia Abu Bakar, Afidah Sapari, Hamidah Bani, Sharifah Norhafiza Ibrahim, Nurlaila, Hendra Harmain
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Author (s) should affirm that the material has not been published previously. It has not been submitted and it is not under consideration by any other journal. At the same time author (s) need to execute a publication permission agreement to assume the responsibility of the submitted content and any omissions and errors therein. After submission of revised paper in the light of suggestions of the reviewers, the editorial team edits and formats manuscripts to bring uniformity and standardization in published material.
This work will be licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) and under condition of the license, users are free to read, copy, remix, transform, redistribute, download, print, search or link to the full texts of articles and even build upon their work as long as they credit the author for the original work. Moreover, as per journal policy author (s) hold and retain copyrights without any restrictions.
