AFS Returnees are different, even 25 years later!
AFS Long-Term Impact Study:
In 2006, AFS began a new study on AFS alumni from the 1980s. Thank you to the more than 150 individuals in 12 countries who participated in focus groups that year to guide the survey design, and to the 1960 of our program alumni in 15 countries, and over 500 of their friends, who took the time to answer our web survey in 2007. Recently in Berlin, an overview of the AFS Long Term Impact Study results was presented on October 13, 2008 at the “Moving Beyond Mobility” conference. We have the fact sheet from that presentation available now, along with the first report of the study, produced in April 2008.
Study Fact Sheet from Moving Beyond Mobility Conference
Report 1. 20 to 25 years after the exchange experience, AFS alumni are compared with their peers
The study results so far suggest that AFS alumni are more likely to speak at least one other language fluently, will be more likely to have friends from other cultures, to seek jobs that involve contact with other cultures. They are also more likely to encourage their children to meet people from other cultures and to study abroad, indicating that this type of interaction across cultures is a core part of what they value.
- Watch this site for further updates on this research
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- Comment on the study on afspedia.org
Russia and Me
AFS once again has a student essay in i-Student Advisor
This one is from Italian student Chiara Boni who is completing her AFS program in Russia.
AFS Intercultural Eyes
A blog about intercultural education and AFS programs. Also featured: Event calendar listing upcoming conferences on intercultural topics.
AFS Publishes Symposium Papers
AFS was proud to be represented in July 2007 at the 5th Biennial Conference of the International Academy of Intercultural Research by Dr. Bettina Hansel, a fellow of the Academy and the AFS Director of Research at AFS International. Dr. Hansel was one of five participants presenting papers at Symposium VI, Internationalizing Youth and Young Adults. The symposium was convened by Dr. Robert C. Weigl, Director of the Franklin Center. In addition to Dr. Hansel, the panel included Dr. Kenneth Cushner, the new president of the Academy and Executive Director of International Affairs and Professor of Education at Kent State University; Dr. Les McCabe, President of the Institute for Shipboard Education/Semester at Sea; and Dr. Dharm P.S. Bhawuk of the Shidler College of Business at the University of Hawaii, Manoa.
AFS has now electronically published the papers from the symposium. The 90-page pdf file can be downloaded here. Symposium Papers
Assessment of the Impact of the AFS Study Abroad Experience
In 2005, Dr. Mitchell Hammer of Hammer Consulting and American University completed a three-year, independent study of the AFS program. According to Dr. Hammer, these findings confirm that international student exchange at the high school level plays a critical role in building bridges across cultural differences. Students return home with improved abilities to navigate across cultural boundaries.
The study findings show that the AFS programs help young people:
- Become more competent in crossing cultures.
- Feel more confident around other cultures.
- Build more friendships with people from other cultures.
- Become fluent in the foreign language.
- Know more in general about the host culture.
The work completed has helped AFS understand the needs of our current students and their families and to find ways to enhance our orientation materials, selection, guidelines and placement recommendations.
Intercultural Research Community
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