The Future of Online Study Abroad Programs (From a survey of online study abroad participants)

Abstract

As of 2023, after the COVID-19 pandemic has subsided, some universities are starting to resume overseas training by dispatching students. For the past few years, both students and universities have been waiting for an environment in which they can freely study abroad, as was the case before 2019. On the other hand, the question emerges regarding what will happen to online overseas training, which has rapidly developed in the last few years. Therefore, in this paper, the author considers the advantages, disadvantages, results, and future of online overseas programs based on a practical report on an online overseas program conducted in the spring of 2022 and a questionnaire survey of university students who participated in the program. The results indicate that, even though it was a short-term online overseas program lasting two weeks, points such as Intercultural approach (-avoidance) tendency, Ethnocentrism, Interest in foreign affairs, Having things to communicate, Independence, Cooperation, Cross-cultural understanding, and Knowledge and education effect increased.