Where Are They Now? A Look at the Longitudinal Effect of Short Study Abroad Programs on Hirosaki University Graduates

抄録

In medical and scientific fields, especially, undergraduates have little time for overseas study. Emphasizing glocal benefits, our university and local businesses developed highly subsidized short-term international PBL programs. While, culturally, “small town” means something different in Japan than Hawai`i, we contrasted these cultures through various programs designed for mutually beneficial learning experiences. This paper analyzes the effect that participating in such programs has had on their lives and experiences based on questionnaire responses and interviews of participants, now working or in graduate programs. Using the respondents’ own words, the authors describe how the PBL impacted their lives. The authors further discuss lessons learned and offer suggestions, and a template, for other university educators in a position to create similar projects for their students.