The Benefits of Short-Term Study Abroad Programs for Engineering Students

Engineering students are among the least likely to study abroad as undergraduate students despite the increasingly global nature of related work due to: (1) the high number of credits required for graduation, (2) challenging courses that build upon each other and are sequential, (3) students not typically having foreign language skills. While many universities are focused on trying to increase study abroad access and opportunities, there are little data to assess the tangible benefits for engineering students. Approximately 200 undergraduate engineering students at a selective private institution in the Midwest were part of the current study. The students that participated in a 6-week summer study abroad program during the summer of 2019 were surveyed before and after participating in the program. The results were analyzed statistically (primarily with paired t-tests) to better understand the programmatic benefits. Students were asked to evaluate themselves on measures of cultural self-assessment, and students pre vs. post responses showed growth in every category (statistically significant at 95% confidence level or above). Students participating in a summer study abroad program were more likely to graduate with a higher number of overall credits earned and more likely to have earned an additional credential such as a minor or second major.