Abstract:
Extension educators, faculty and students must be prepared to function in a marketplace and society that is increasingly global in scope. Study abroad programs offer an opportunity for participants to experience and appreciate cultures from around the world. The objective of this project was to develop a study abroad program to Vietnam with an emphasis on the understanding of culture, opportunities and challenges in international agriculture as a means for improving students’ and extension educators’ ability to locally address global issues. A total of nine participants (four undergraduate students, four extension educators and one faculty member) traveled to Vietnam from March 1-March 10, 2013. The program consisted of site visits to local farms and industry operations as well as interaction with faculty and students at Hanoi University of Agriculture. Several cultural activities were also included throughout the visit. During spring semester 2013, students regularly met with faculty to discuss key issues related to climate change and international agriculture. Additionally, program participants completed the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) both before and after travel. The IDI provided information on the orientation of the group toward cultural commonalities and differences and evaluated the cultural competence of the group. Results indicated minimal change in the intercultural competence of the group, but did support an increased ability for the group to reach a consensus on how the group responded to perceived cultural challenges.
Key Words:
Emerging issues, Vietnam, extension educators, intercultural development
 17. Karcher NACTA Special Issue Sept 2013.pdf | [ ] | 388 kB |
