Research and Analysis of the Benefits of International Education ...

Research and Analysis of the Benefits of International Education Opportunities

A literature review on opportunities for international experience in the UK, and comparison with the US and Germany

For more information about this report please contact:

CFE Research, Phoenix Yard, Upper Brown Street, Leicester, LE1 5TE

T: 0116 229 3300 E: info@.uk .uk

? British Council, 2014

The members of the research team that contributed to this review are:

Dr Guy Birkin, CFE Tristram Hughes, CFE John Brennan, LSE Enterprise.

CONTENTS

Executive Summary .................................................................................... 5

Introduction

5

Understanding Intercultural Experience

5

International Opportunities in the UK

6

Comparison of UK with Other Countries

8

The Impact of International Experience

9

Summary of Evidence

9

01. Introduction ..................................................................................... 10

Methodology

11

02. Understanding Intercultural Experience .......................................... 12

Defining Intercultural Experience

12

Models of Intercultural Experience

13

Intercultural Experience in European Policy

14

Key Concepts

15

03. International Opportunities in the UK .............................................. 18

Pre-Primary Education

18

Primary Education

19

Secondary Education

22

Further Education

25

Higher Education

26

Gap Years

37

Volunteering

40

Working

41

04. Comparison of UK with Other Countries...........................................44

Global Context

44

Comparison with the US and Germany

46

05. Impact of International Experience .................................................. 57

Individuals

57

Employers

60

The UK Economy

61

06. Summary of evidence ........................................................................ 63

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Opportunities for further research

64

Developments in UK Outbound Mobility

65

References ................................................................................................67

Appendix 1: Common Learning Outcomes of Intercultural Education .......................................................................................... 74

Appendix 2: Examples of Intercultural Awareness Raising (IAR) Activities ........................................................................................... 75

Appendix 3: Myths and Misconceptions of International Education .......................................................................................... 77

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Executive Summary

Introduction

The British Council commissioned CFE Research and LSE Enterprise in May 2014 to conduct research to examine the impact of international experiences on individuals, employers, the economy and society. The purpose of the research is to provide evidence to inform a report that will be produced by the British Council setting out the benefits of international experiences to a UK audience of senior policymakers, business leaders/employers, education and culture sector stakeholders, think tanks and the media. The findings presented in this document draw on a literature review that investigates the evidence on the provision, scale and benefits of different types of international experiences. The findings complement a second literature review of key evidence on the UK's competitive position and the role of skills within this.1 The literature reviews helped to inform the design of primary research with individuals with and without international experiences and a series of case studies.2 The aim of this literature review is to provide a summary of the nature and scale of international activity in the UK, and to compare this with activity in the US and Germany. The focus is on outward mobility of UK-domiciled learners and the benefits offered by these international education experiences. The review is based on analysis of approximately 150 reports and papers on international education opportunities, and information from websites of organisations that provide or monitor international experiences. We find that there is a lack of data collection and research on the scale and impact of international experiences, at both national and international levels. The most evidenced topic is international higher education, which is also the largest area of activity.

Understanding Intercultural Experience

DEFINING INTERCULTURAL EXPERIENCE The benefits of international experience can be understood in terms of the development of intercultural skills. These are the set of cognitive, affective and behavioural skills that support effective and appropriate interaction in a variety of cultural contexts. The key factor in the development of these skills is the experience of other cultures ? using new languages, meeting people of other cultures or nationalities, and learning new customs. Such experiences offer the potential to develop communication skills, cultural awareness, behavioural flexibility, and social responsibility.

1 CFE Research and LSE Enterprise (2014) Research and Analysis of the Benefits of International Education Opportunities: A literature review on UK competitiveness and skills (needs). London: British Council. 2 CFE Research and LSE Enterprise (2014) Research and analysis of the benefits of international educational opportunities: A report for the British Council. London: British Council.

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