Enhancing students’ global competence through international business study missions

What is it about?

This paper is a study of how an Asian University enhanced students’ global competence through international business study missions (BSMs). Using the case study approach, it critically analyses the learning goals and objectives, design decisions, implementation details and learning outcomes underlying three business study missions led by three instructors from the same university to the USA (New York), Germany (Berlin and Stuttgart), and South Korea (Seoul). More specifically, it focuses on (i) how the design of these three BSMs enabled “deep” learning beyond industry tourism and (ii) how 21st century competencies such as ‘global competence’ can be acquired through participation in short-term, faculty-led study missions. The study shows that students participating in these international BSMs gained valuable global competencies related to specific fields of study such as the creative industries, urban (smart city) sustainability, and entrepreneurship. Significantly, it shows how design factors such as choice of destination, range of organizations, length of individual visits, range of pedagogical techniques, intensity of preparation, and quality of management contribute to students’ acquisition of global competencies. Limitations of the study are discussed.

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Photo by Ben White on Unsplash

Photo by Ben White on Unsplash

Why is it important?

The detailed case studies of three instructors from different disciplines to achieve the country’s education vision of globally competent students. The course design described here provides practical information for designing study abroad “deep” learning goals, objectives and outcomes focusing on global competence.

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