Abstract:
An international student exchange program was established in 2000 between the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and Kasetsart University, Thailand. The program's objectives were to provide participants a comparative perspective of agricultural, food and natural resource industries and engender cross-cultural understanding. The program accommodated ten to twelve students from each university annually. Kasetsart University students spent the month of May in Tennessee and University of Tennessee students spent the month of June in Thailand. The hosting institution was responsible for all aspects of the study tour for the visiting delegation and for food, lodging, transportation and entertainment expenses while in the host country. Results obtained from pre- and post study tour surveys of participating students from the first three years of the exchange program clearly indicate that a significant gain in knowledge of the visited country's society, culture, and food and agricultural industries was achieved. A summary of incurred expenses for both institutions for the 2003 study tour is provided and demonstrates that such a program can be economically sustainable, assuming it is an institutional priority.
Keywords:
outcome assessment, Thailand student exchange program
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