Japanese study finds students' study abroad impact may be exaggerated

Study abroad impact for Japanese students may not be as great as students believe. Particularly related to advantages students gain in future employability, the study found that students believe study abroad has greater value than employers do. The number of Japanese students who engaged in short term (less than a month) study abroad increased from 16,873 in 2009 to 66,876 in 2017 but employers report finding little value in these short experiences. The number of short-term U.S. study abroad students has accelerated in recent years as well, with perception of outcomes questioned by study abroad officials.

One of the core issues related to study abroad impact is what is happening during these experiences, whether short or long. "Bubble" programs often allow students to retreat to the security of their group and not really engage with indigenous people and settings. It is up to faculty and study abroad experts to deepen the dive into local culture and issues so that students' exposure truly is "study" rather than just glorified tourism.