Experiential Pedagogy for Study Abroad: Educating for Global Citizenship

Abstract

Given current world events, it would be nice to be able to state unequivocally that international educational exchanges inevitably lead to the development of mutual understanding and global awareness but there are also countless students who spend a year studying abroad without ever becoming immersed in the local culture or developing an appreciation for lifestyles that differ from their own (Kauffmann et al., 1992). It is the firm belief of these authors that study abroad in and of itself does not lead to the development of global citizenship, but that it can do so when it is designed with that goal in mind, putting into practice the principles of experiential education.