Article

Effectiveness of international exchange programmes in vocational education

Oksana Kovtun, Oleksandr Kovtun, Valentyna Krykun
Retrieved from Vol. 10, No. 2, 2024 Pages 66–77
Received
16.07.2024
Revised
04.11.2024
Accepted
12.12.2024
Views
847

Abstract

The study aimed to evaluate the impact of international exchange programmes on the training of future professionals. The methodology involved the analysis of survey and interview data collected from participants in exchange programmes, allowing for a comparison of outcomes before and after programme completion. An important aspect of the research was assessing participants’ satisfaction with the conditions and experiences gained during the programme. The findings demonstrated that participation in international exchange programmes significantly enhances professional competencies and broadens employment opportunities. The study revealed that such programmes contribute to developing intercultural communication skills and expanding participants’ worldviews, which is particularly vital in the context of globalisation. Certain challenges were also identified, notably those related to participants’ adaptation to new learning and working environments abroad. The study confirmed that international exchange programmes are an effective tool for enhancing the quality of vocational education and fostering global competencies while highlighting the need for improved support for participants during the adaptation process. The importance of support from educational institutions and employers was emphasised, as it enables participants to maximise the benefits of acquired knowledge and skills upon their return. A key focus was placed on examining the impact of cultural differences on the learning process and professional activities, allowing for the identification of critical factors for successful adaptation. Recommendations for programme improvement include enhancing participant preparation for exchange programmes and providing extended support following programme completion. The findings underscored the significant potential of international exchange programmes for professional development

Keywords

References

[1] AIESEC. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://aiesec.ua/.

[2] Alsalhi, N.R.A., Alqawasmi, A.A., Alakashee, B.A., Al-Qatawneh, S., El-Mneizel, A.F., Al-Barakat, A.A., & Al-karasneh, S.M. (2024). Evaluating the impact of reciprocal teaching strategy on international postgraduate science education programs. Journal of International Students, 14(3), 491-507. doi: 10.32674/jis.v14i3.6824.

[3] Aubrey, S., & Tsang, A. (2022). Capitalizing on international students to promote cross-cultural learning in an English language education program. Journal of Education for Teaching, 49(2), 341-344. doi: 10.1080/02607476.2022.2150539.

[4] Basu, O.D., Isabelle, D., & Pineau, S. (2024). Climate change and societal transformation: A cohort-based international experiential learning program with an interdisciplinary focus on environmental education for graduate students. Environmental Education Researchdoi: 10.1080/13504622.2024.2390627.

[5] Breatnach, C.R., Floh, A., Hamilton, M., & Mema, B. (2024). Case-based education rounds – the eternal heart of an international training program. Frontiers in Pediatrics, 12. doi: 10.3389/fped.2024.1306020.

[6] Campbell, A.C., & Basi, R. (2022). Preparing international scholarship students for graduate education: The case of the open society foundations’ pre-academic summer program. Philanthropy & Education, 5(2), 10-30. doi: 10.2979/phileduc.5.2.02.

[7] Chávez, A.B.O. (2023). The influence of international organizations on public policies in higher education in Mexico and the configuration of law degree programs. Historical Reflections, 49(2), 94-109. doi: 10.3167/hrrh.2023.490206.

[8] Chiang, M., & Chen, P. (2022). Education for sustainable development in the business programme to develop international Chinese college students’ sustainability in Thailand. Journal of Cleaner Production, 374, article number 134045. doi: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.134045.

[9] Colombelli, A., Panelli, A., & Serraino, F. (2022). A learning-by-doing approach to entrepreneurship education: Evidence from a short intensive online international program. Administrative Sciences, 12(1), article number 16. doi: 10.3390/admsci12010016.

[10] The DAAD academic exchange programme. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://oneu.edu.ua/pages/viddili-i-sluzhbi/miznarod/osvitni-programi-3/.

[11] Dulun, Ö., & Lane, J.F. (2023). Supporting critical thinking skills needed for the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme: A content analysis of a national and two international education programs in Turkey. Thinking Skills and Creativity, 47, article number 101211. doi: 10.1016/j.tsc.2022.101211.

[12] Dutta, D., Ibrahim, H., Cofrancesco, J.Jr., Archuleta, S., & Stadler, D.J. (2023). The gendered work/role of program directors in international graduate medical education. Qualitative Health Research, 33(3), 154-164. doi: 10.1177/10497323221145832.

[13] Enkhtur, A., Zhang, X., Li, M., & Che, L. (2024). Exploring an effective international higher education partnership model through virtual student mobility programs: A case study. ECNU Review of Education, 7(4), 970-990. doi: 10.1177/20965311241232691.

[14] Erasmus+. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://erasmusplus.org.ua/.

[15] Flurin, L., et al. (2022). International virtual simulation education in critical care during COVID-19 pandemic: Preliminary description of the virtual checklist for early recognition and treatment of acute illness and injury program. Simulation in Healthcare: The Journal of the Society for Simulation in Healthcare, 17(3), 205-207. doi: 10.1097/SIH.0000000000000656.

[16] Fulbright program. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.fulbrightprogram.org/.

[17] Green, J.Y., Metzl, E.S., & Treviño, A.L. (2023). International online art therapy education program: Evaluating cultural and global perspectives. Art Therapy, 40(2), 84-93. doi: 10.1080/07421656.2023.2169564.

[18] Kahn, J., & Pardanani, S. (2024). The evolution of a successful international education program at a community college: Harnessing leadership to create meaningful global engagement at Shoreline Community College. In S. Nako (Ed.), Narratives and strategies of effective leadership in community colleges (pp. 218-234). Hershey: IGI Global Scientific Publishing. doi: 10.4018/979-8-3693-1790-7.ch012.

[19] Kiegaldie, D., Pepe, A., Shaw, L., & Evans, T. (2022). Implementation of a collaborative online international learning program in nursing education: Protocol for a mixed methods study. BMC Nursing, 21, article number 252. doi: 10.1186/s12912-022-01031-9.

[20] Li, H., Sun, Y., Barwise, A., Cui, W., Dong, Y., Tekin, A., Yuan, Q., Qiao, L., Gajic, O., & Niven, A. (2022). A novel multimodal needs assessment to inform the longitudinal education program for an international interprofessional critical care team. BMC Medical Education, 22, article number 540. doi: 10.1186/s12909-022-03605-2.

[21] Liu, S. (2024). Urban political economy of elite education: International programs in Chinese elite public high schools. Discourse: Studies in the Cultural Politics of Education, 45(3), 396-415. doi: 10.1080/01596306.2024.2335006.

[22] Lopez-Duarte, C., Maley, J.F., & Vidal-Suarez, M.M. (2022). International mobility in higher education: Students’ attitude to international credit virtual mobility programs. European Journal of Higher Education, 13(4), 468-487. doi: 10.1080/21568235.2022.2068637.

[23] Macpherson, L., & Collins, M. (2017). Training responsibly to improve global surgical and anaesthesia capacity through institutional health partnerships: A case study. Tropical Doctor, 47(1), 73-77. doi: 10.1177/0049475516665999.

[24] Maisyaroh, M., Untari, S., Chusniyah, T., Adha, M.A., Prestiadi, D., & Ariyanti, N.S. (2024). Strengthening character education planning based on Pancasila value in the international class program. International Journal of Evaluation and Research in Education, 12(1), 149-156. doi: 10.11591/ijere.v12i1.24161.

[25] Marschollek, M., Walles, T., Pape, H.-C., & Doenst, T. (2023). Early career support for biomedical exchange students with an international mentor-to-mentor concept – the biomedical education program (BMEP). Studies in Health Technology and Informatics, 298, 34-38. doi: 10.3233/SHTI220903.

[26] Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine. (2024). Retrieved from https://mon.gov.ua/en.

[27] Morgan, D.A. (2023). Parameters of learning during clinical nursing study abroad: Focused analysis of phenomenological data using a change-transformative learning theory lens. Nurse Education in Practice, 73, article number 103831. doi: 10.1016/j.nepr.2023.103831.

[28] Schwartz-Bechet, B., & Duffy, C. (2023). Teacher education program student-faculty engagement via an international opportunity. In Fostering sustained student-faculty engagement in undergraduate education. London: Routledge.

[29] Sukadiono, S. (2024). The effect of knee stretching exercise with knee strengthening exercise on pain, rom, and motion function post knee injury in climbing athletes. Pakistan Journal of Life and Social Sciences, 22(1), 251-266. doi: 10.57239/PJLSS-2024-22.1.0020.

[30] The Declaration of Helsinki. (2013). Retrieved from https://www.wma.net/what-we-do/medical-ethics/declaration-of-helsinki/.

[31] Vargas-Hernandez, J.G., Guerra, E., & Vargas-Gonzàlez, O.C. (2024). Inter-socio-intercultural entrepreneurship in higher education: A case on a postgraduate program in economics and international business of an indigenous university in Mexico. In M. Gumbo, M. Gaotlhobogwe, C. Pedzisai, Z. Jojo & C. Knaus (Eds.), Global perspectives on decolonizing postgraduate education (pp. 109-130). Hershey: IGI Global Scientific Publishing. doi: 10.4018/979-8-3693-1289-6.ch008.

[32] Walsh, C.A., Borlé, E., Lorenzetti, L., Birks, L., Cerecero, L., & de la Cruz Lugardo, P.I. (2023). International field education: A case study of developing an anti-colonial group study program in Mexico. International Social Work, 66(2), 405-418. doi: 10.1177/0020872820976756.

[33] Wang, Z., et al. (2024). Evaluation of the McGill-Tongji blended education program for teacher leaders in general practice: The importance of partnership and contextualization in international primary care training initiatives. Health Care Science, 3(4), 238-248. doi: 10.1002/hcs2.107.

[34] Wright, E., & Mulvey, B. (2022). The promised capitals of international high school programmes and the global field of higher education: The case of Shenzhen, China. Journal of Research in International Education, 21(2), 87-104. doi: 10.1177/14752409221122070.

[35] Zhou, A., Huck, C., & Houdyshell, M.E. (2023). Impact of the Fulbright teaching excellence and achievement program on participating U.S. secondary schools. Educational Studies, 50(1), 123-138. doi: 10.1080/03055698.2023.2256919.

[36] Zhou, G., Wang, P., Liu, T., Zhang, J., Li, Y., Fu, C., & Wu, S. (2022). What they learned won’t go away: The impacts of an international exchange program on Chinese teacher candidates’ understanding of and practice in science education. ECNU Review of Education, 5(3), 404-424. doi: 10.1177/2096531120959676.

Suggested citation

Kovtun, O., Kovtun, O., & Krykun, V. (2024). Effectiveness of international exchange programmes in vocational education. Professional Education: Methodology, Theory and Technologies, 10(2), 66-77. https://doi.org/10.69587/pemtt/2.2024.66