Abstract
The United States (U.S.) is more racially and ethnically diverse than in the past, and this trend is expected to continue. To produce a population of culturally competent professionals, many educational institutions have adopted the use of international service learning experiences (ISL). Although current ISL literature exists for fields such as occupation therapy, medical doctors, physical therapy, and nursing, gaps in knowledge continue to exist regarding the perceived value of the ISL experience and how it relates to health care students’ career and school success. The aim of this study was to use a qualitative inquiry with open-ended survey questions, to investigate students’ perceived value of ISL experience on their career and academic success and capture the lived experience of the participants. Methods: Surveys were distributed electronically via Checkbox preserving anonymity and to screen for inclusion criteria. A total of 15 responses were analyzed to elucidate emerging themes from the data. A total of 12 themes were captured including predetermined categories pulled from research. Results: In all, students perceived ISL experiences to be valuable to their career success and educational progress citing improved cultural awareness, new world perspectives, and increased self -confidence as a result of their participation. Discussion: All 18 participants reported that ISL experiences affected their academic and personal lives positively. Students reported that their participation abroad helped motivate them academically and in pursuing their career goals due to a sense of new purpose. Responses also mentioned that their time abroad had exposed them to new cultural differences which students felt increased their cultural competence and had given them new perspectives. Conclusion: Results coincide with the body of literature surrounding ISL and how it affects students. The data suggest that ISL can be a valuable tool in the learning process for students and that student perceived service learning to be of great value to their future career success