Embargo Period

5-10-2018

Degree Name

MA in International Education

First Advisor

Linda Drake Gobbo

Abstract

According to the Forum on Education Abroad’s State of the Field 2017 survey, more students on average studied abroad with third-party providers than with both private and public institutions combined in the 2016-2017 academic year. However, many of the resources available and best practices for the profession are focused toward advisors who work at institutions of higher education. These resources often discuss how contact with on-site students should be established, but only vague references are made for advisors employed by a provider. This study discusses the potential impacts that education abroad advisors at third-party providers may have on the student experience by maintaining contact with their on-site students, as well as what implications these results have for the profession. Using theories of student development, and utilizing the resources currently in existence for third-party providers, advisors at third-party providers were surveyed and interviewed, and the websites of several third-party providers were analyzed to determine what current practices are in place for maintaining contact with on-site students, if at all. This research concludes that many education abroad advisors maintain contact with on-site students, whether or not their provider organizes their role to take part in this communication. Education abroad advisors at third-party providers should develop strategies based on their organizational needs to support students in their on-site transition in anticipation of this contact.

Disciplines

Academic Advising | International and Comparative Education | Other Psychology

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