An Exploratory Study on the Resumption of Student Exchange after Containment of COVID-19 (Based on a Questionnaire Survey of Japanese, U.S. and South Korean Universities)

Abstract

This study aimed to elucidate how student exchange under inter-university agreements is to be resumed and maintained following the containment of COVID-19. A questionnaire survey was conducted with universities in Japan, South Korea, and the United States (US). The results revealed that Japanese universities tend to be cautious about resuming activities and have yet to determine how to conduct future study abroad programs. By contrast, the results for South Korean and US universities showed their inclination to conduct student exchange on the same scale as before the pandemic as soon as COVID-19 is under control. For both the aforementioned countries, the most common response was that future exchange programs will be conducted such that online activities constitute approximately 20% of a program; the second most common response was to conduct exchange activities that are entirely onsite. These results indicate that Japanese universities will be affected by the decisions of their partner universities in terms of ascertaining the ideal method of resuming and maintaining the mutual acceptance and dispatch of international students and will be pressed to take swift action and decide on new models for conducting student exchange programs.