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International Students’ Perceptions towards Their Learning Experience in an International Network Seminar in Japan: During and Post the COVID-19 Pandemic

Author

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  • Mikael Søndergaard

    (Faculty of Department of Management, Aarhus BSS, Aarhus University, 8210 Aarhus V, Denmark)

  • Fuyuko Takita

    (Faculty of Institute of Global Higher Education, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima 739-8524, Japan)

  • Ingrid Van Rompay-Bartels

    (International School of Business, HAN University of Applied Sciences, 6826 CC Arnhem, The Netherlands)

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has struck educational experience systems around the globe. This paper investigates and evaluates the student participants’ perceptions who joined the international exchange seminar on global citizenship and peace held at a University in Hiroshima, Japan. Approximately seventy students and faculty members from nine to ten different universities from around the globe joined this summer program in August 2021 (online) and 2022 (face-to-face). This study is a mixed-method study. The first part consists of a quantitative analysis of BEVI data obtained from the students in the seminar before COVID-19 and after. The research concludes that there are no changes in the effects of what students learn. The second part consists of qualitative data. The data shows the perceptions of students of online teaching versus hybrid teaching. It compares the differences in participants’ perceptions reported in students’ feedback on the programs during and post-COVID-19. Our results confirm prominent differences exist in the students’ perceptions of their learning experience during the pre-pandemic and post-pandemic periods. The findings indicate based on lessons learned post-pandemic, universities need to strive and define the meaning and purpose of international seminars, which enable students to experience a high level of intercultural social interaction online and face-to-face. As the world becomes more interconnected, virtual environments, such as the ones presented within the International Seminar in Hiroshima, Japan, are vital to facilitating intercultural teaching environments and the implications within this paper indicate that these virtual mediums can promote inclusion, leading to a more sustainable world.

Suggested Citation

  • Mikael Søndergaard & Fuyuko Takita & Ingrid Van Rompay-Bartels, 2023. "International Students’ Perceptions towards Their Learning Experience in an International Network Seminar in Japan: During and Post the COVID-19 Pandemic," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-16, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:11:p:8641-:d:1156465
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Carolyn Chisadza & Matthew Clance & Thulani Mthembu & Nicky Nicholls & Eleni Yitbarek, 2021. "Online and face‐to‐face learning: Evidence from students’ performance during the Covid‐19 pandemic," African Development Review, African Development Bank, vol. 33(S1), pages 114-125, April.
    2. Valentina Dagiene & Egle Jasute & Vida Navickiene & Rita Butkiene & Daina Gudoniene, 2022. "Opportunities, Quality Factors, and Required Changes during the Pandemic Based on Higher Education Leaders’ Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-18, February.
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