It is Better if You Come with Me: An Exploratory Investigation of Study Abroad Program Effects on Internationalized Career Interest

Abstract

We conduct an exploratory study about study abroad programs in business schools. In a small sample, we find satisfaction with the study abroad experience is positively related to participants’ reported willingness to accept jobs that require international travel and jobs that require international work collaboration. Additionally, students who developed relationships during their study abroad were more likely to evaluate the experience positively, indicating that fostering relationships is an important factor for study abroad leaders to consider. We also employed homesickness as an exploratory variable, finding that expected homesickness is negatively related to expected satisfaction with study abroad experiences, which may explain some reluctance to study and work abroad.