“If I had more of a relationship with them, it would be good”: Community members' perspectives of Community-Engaged Education Abroad programs in Costa Rica

Open Access
- Author:
- Habashy, Noel
- Graduate Program:
- Agricultural Education
- Degree:
- Doctor of Philosophy
- Document Type:
- Dissertation
- Date of Defense:
- September 06, 2019
- Committee Members:
- Nicole Sheree Webster, Dissertation Advisor/Co-Advisor
Nicole Sheree Webster, Committee Chair/Co-Chair
Connie Devine Baggett, Committee Member
Kathleen J D Sexsmith, Outside Member
Carter A Hunt, Outside Member
Edgar Yoder, Committee Member
Mark A Brennan, Jr., Program Head/Chair - Keywords:
- Education Abroad
Service Learning
International Service Learning
Community Development
International Development
Costa Rica
Community Engaged Education Abroad - Abstract:
- Education Abroad is often billed as a wonderful opportunity for international collaboration and enhanced intercultural understanding for students and community members alike. Unfortunately, the local individuals in contact with these programs often have little ability to share their perspectives and have their voices heard. Each year over 300,000 U.S. university students travel internationally to learn in different cultures; however, there is a dearth of empirical research examining the perspectives of local people who interact with visiting students. The purpose of this qualitative comparative case study is to understand the varying perspectives of community members within two communities in Costa Rica that interact with U.S. undergraduate students from two different programs (a service learning program and an applied research program). This study utilized a theoretical framework of critical theory and local knowledge to explore the layers of positionality and the perspectives of many people with varying degrees of power who have interactions with visiting students. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 62 local community members, direct observations, and document analysis. Findings from this study include the community members’ perceptions of opportunities and challenges of interactions with foreign university students, the value of relationships between community members and visiting students, and the challenge of a study abroad organization holding all power related to scheduling and community interactions. This research will illuminate areas of consideration for design, implementation, and evaluation of education abroad programs and other outsider-local interactions globally.