Hospitality and tourism students’ perspective and experience with international immersion
Eloranta, Julia (2021)
2021
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2021120824472
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2021120824472
Tiivistelmä
This Bachelor’s thesis studies the effects immersive international sojourn has on students
who are in the hospitality and tourism field. The thesis was commissioned by the international services of Haaga-Helia in Haaga campus.
The goal of the research was to find out students' experience going abroad and how they
have noticed changes and developments in themselves. As a product-based thesis, the intent was to create material that future students could use for debriefing after their sojourn
or in preparation before embarking on their voyage.
The theoretical section discusses the topics of cultural intelligence, transformational experiences and personal development. These work as the base for the quantitative surveys
which were created in Webropol. The first survey was sent out in late May and the next
one was sent in late September.
The survey gave insight into students' thoughts about their experiences, development in
competences and skills, and possible other changes they encountered during or after their
time abroad. The responses revealed that the students had developed skills that are useful
in their field of studies, as well as the students themselves having noted changes that can
be linked to one having a transformational experience. All respondents acknowledged important features linked with cultural intelligence and intercultural competence, as well as
having developed in those areas.
The research and results both support the goals of the thesis, and the material created will
hold relevant information, for preparation and debrief purposes, about what a student can
expect from their experience with international immersion.
who are in the hospitality and tourism field. The thesis was commissioned by the international services of Haaga-Helia in Haaga campus.
The goal of the research was to find out students' experience going abroad and how they
have noticed changes and developments in themselves. As a product-based thesis, the intent was to create material that future students could use for debriefing after their sojourn
or in preparation before embarking on their voyage.
The theoretical section discusses the topics of cultural intelligence, transformational experiences and personal development. These work as the base for the quantitative surveys
which were created in Webropol. The first survey was sent out in late May and the next
one was sent in late September.
The survey gave insight into students' thoughts about their experiences, development in
competences and skills, and possible other changes they encountered during or after their
time abroad. The responses revealed that the students had developed skills that are useful
in their field of studies, as well as the students themselves having noted changes that can
be linked to one having a transformational experience. All respondents acknowledged important features linked with cultural intelligence and intercultural competence, as well as
having developed in those areas.
The research and results both support the goals of the thesis, and the material created will
hold relevant information, for preparation and debrief purposes, about what a student can
expect from their experience with international immersion.