Summary

Presenters will facilitate an interactive workshop envisioning future actions to support and embrace diversity and inclusion in social work study abroad programs.\\ Presenters will facilitate a workshop to discuss student reflections on the impact of study abroad experiences in areas such as national diversities, cultural awareness and humility, professional and personal growth, and most impactful and transformative experiences.\\ The social work profession has long recognized the importance of human rights and engaging in diversity, equity, and inclusion (CSWE EPAS, 2022). Gaining a perspective on global human rights requires information about the world and experiences beyond their home country. Past studies indicate social work students gain more from study abroad compared to travel abroad (Kim, 2015).\\ There is general agreement that studying abroad has both high costs and significant positive outcomes. A common thread in both social work international practicums and study abroad is student transformation which represents a life-changing, personal, and professional experience (Colton \\& Thompson, 2017; Lough, 2009). Presenters will share student reflections based on their study abroad experiences in Panama and Italy. Presenters will discuss results involving the following themes: (1) Community, (2) Adaptation, (3) Empowerment / Inspiration / Transformation, \\& (4) Culture. Presenters in the workshop participated in planning, teaching, and leading the in-country experience for one or both sites. The model for the course is classroom content on global social issues and human rights followed by a twelve-day immersion. Presenters will discuss how the themes emerged from analyses of student presentations regarding what types of study abroad experiences were the most impactful and transformational. Specific areas covered are types of experiences that had the largest impact on social work student professional and personal growth, the study abroad experience’s effect on students' cultural humility and sensitivity, differences in transformative experiences, and unexpected experiences from the trip that significantly affected students.

Keywords (separate with commas)

Research, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Study Abroad, Reflective Practice, Future Action, Human Rights, Transformative Experiences, Professional Development, Cultural Humility, Program Outcomes, Immersion Program