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There is increasing student mobility around the world and a growing focus on transnational education. Until a decade ago in Australia and New Zealand the emphasis was on attracting international students to be full-fee paying (FFP) enrolments. Consequently, much of the research has focused on issues relating to the psychosocial and sociocultural adjustment, and learning and teaching needs of FFP international students. Recently, there has been a growing field of work from the US and Europe examining outbound student mobility programs including cultural and language tours, study abroad and student exchange. Although student exchange is purported to be an effective method for increasing the intercultural competence of domestic students to perform in the global marketplace, there is a paucity of research empirically examining the student exchange experience. Thus, this thesis examined student exchange in the Australian and New Zealand context. This research project investigated the processes and outcomes of the student exchange experience for Australian and New Zealand university students. This thesis examined how many students participate in exchange programs; who these students are; why they participate and what impact this experience has in terms of intercultural competencies and international orientation. This research project is unique as it represents the first detailed national study of student exchange in both Australia and New Zealand. Reflecting the longitudinal study in this thesis, a model was developed spanning the three phases of the exchange sojourn: pre-departure, in-country, post-exchange. The model incorporated the factors that influence Australian and New Zealand students to participate in an exchange program and the variables which affect their experiences in the host country. It was proposed that these factors influence the outcomes of the exchange experience. Two additional models provided further details of the factors influencing the exchange decision-making process and students’ experiences in the host country. Multiple methodologies were adopted across the four studies in this thesis in order to understand the factors at all phases of the exchange experience that may impact upon the outcomes of the sojourn. The first study encompassed an analysis of each institution’s strategic plan in regards to student mobility to consider organisational factors influencing participation in the exchange program. Additionally, Study One examined student exchange participation at Australian and New Zealand universities from 1996-2005. The second study had two purposes. Firstly, it examined the personal characteristics of exchange students before departing on their sojourn in order to establish a baseline of competencies. Second, Study Two compared these traits with those of non-exchange students to investigate personal drivers and barriers of mobility. The third study was comprised of interviews with students who were studying on an exchange program in Canada to identify the significant experiences of students in the host culture and to gain insight into how their experiences may have influenced the outcomes of the sojourn. The final study explored the changes in exchange students’ intercultural competencies by comparing their skills measured at the pre-departure stage with those reported approximately six months after returning home. Study Four also considered students’ pre-departure expectations and experiences in the host country. The findings from Study One revealed that despite increasing attention on outbound student mobility at both the government and university level, in 2001 less than one percent of Australian and New Zealand university students engaged in exchange programs. Furthermore, only 23 out of 40 universities expressed student exchange as a strategic goal. No significant relationship was found between the presence of a strategic goal of student exchange and the proportion of students participating in the exchange program. However, participation is not simply affected by the presence of a specific goal of mobility, but factors such as organisational culture, leadership and resourcing affect how policy is implemented. Further research examining the impact of these organisational factors is warranted. The outcome of implementing a policy relating to student mobility is also dependent on the students. The results from Study Two indicated that a priori exchange and non-exchange students were different groups, particularly in terms of intercultural competencies and demographics. Before their sojourn, exchange students presented with higher levels of cultural empathy, open-mindedness, social initiative, flexibility and emotional stability than their non-mobile peers; that is, exchange students possessed the necessary intercultural competencies to aid their adjustment in the host culture. The typical exchange student was female, from a middle-upper socio-economic background and enrolled in a dual degree. The reasons reported by exchange students for studying overseas included a desire to maximise their educational success and employment opportunities, to travel and to experience a new culture. In contrast, non-exchange students remained at home due to the cost of going abroad and a lack of awareness of exchange opportunities at the home university. Study Three provided the link between the factors influencing a student to participate in the exchange program and the reported outcomes by examining their experiences in a host culture, Canada. Overall students reported satisfaction with their in-country experience and few participants identified that they experienced culture shock. This may reflect the perceived negative connotation of this phenomenon. Before departing on their sojourn, the exchange students reported that they had expected life in Canada to be the same as at home. However, they did report mild difficulties with adjusting to differences in areas such as communication, accommodation, the climate, shopping, teaching and learning methods, and friendships with host nationals. Increasing the perceived value of pre-departure training and ensuring that orientation by the host institution focuses on practical and logistical issues may improve students’ expectations and adjustment. Future studies examining the processes of intercultural sojourn should consider more detailed qualitative analysis of students’ in-country experiences to gain a deeper understanding of the time abroad and how it may cause changes within the individual. Study Four revealed that overall there was no change in exchange students’ levels of intercultural competencies, regardless of their host destination. However, there was a trend for students to become more flexible because of the exchange experience. In acknowledgment of the findings in the literature of the outcomes of exchange programs, it is speculated that students become more aware of pre-existing skills. While no significant changes in intercultural competencies were observed, further investigation of other skills such as intercultural sensitivity, intercultural communication competence and social self-efficacy is warranted. After their time abroad, the exchange students continued to be internationally oriented, expressing high desire for future work and travel overseas. In addition to the theoretical models presented in this thesis, this research also has practical implications. The model and the results of these studies provide universities with a better understanding of how to manage their exchange programs. This work is equally relevant to government policy makers as they seek ways to enhance the international capabilities of future employees.

Based on the lessons learned from the participating communities, the findings of this study confirm that the Tanzanian Government's aspirations for developing Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) policies and programmes that build on the strengths of indigenous child-rearing knowledge and practices are not only viable but achievable. What is required is a serious commitment from government to negotiated policy and programme development processes starting with families and communities. As indicated by the study community members, rural families and communities are eager to work together with government as equal partners in finding local solutions to improving the quality of care and early education of their young children in home and community settings as well as through the local services of clinics and schools.

In this thesis, a study was made of four teachers’ perception and application of an intercultural perspective in their teaching practice. The purpose was to investigate how the teachers describe to use an intercultural approach in teaching situations and how they achieve it in social studies. The study aimed to answer the questions below: - How do the teachers perceive the concepts of multicultural, multicultural education and intercultural approach and what do they assume is the purpose of an intercultural approach? - How do the teachers adapt teaching from an intercultural perspective? * - Which advantages and difficulties/hindrance do the teachers consider occur in the enabling of an intercultural approach? - In which way do the teachers make an intercultural approach possible in their teaching practice in social studies? The methods used to answer these questions where qualitative one-on-one interviews and observations of the teachers during class in social studies. The theories used to analyse the material was based on theories on different intercultural approaches and strategies in teaching and the frame factor theory. As a conclusion, this study finds that the teachers in the study are aware of the possibilities and benefits of an intercultural approach. Furthermore, the results show that the way the intercultural approach is utilized in the teaching practice differs from teacher to teacher and that the teachers focus on similar and different aspect of the intercultural approach. However, this study also shows that they teachers feel various difficulties working with an intercultural approach such as the schools’ resources and teaching in different matters and contexts. Which is consistent with previous research?

<div>Scholars in the field of gifted education have identified that summer enrichment programs can have academic and socioemotional benefits for adolescents with gifts and talents. Although some studies have pointed to the intercultural benefits of such programs, few have focused directly on the intercultural benefits multicultural enrichment programs can provide.</div><div>This mixed-methods study had three purposes: (1) to identify and adapt an instrument capable of measuring cultural responsiveness in adolescents with gifts and talents, (2) to examine if adolescents with gifts and talents change in cultural responsiveness over the course of a multicultural, residential summer enrichment program, and (3) to explore effective pedagogical strategies for teaching multicultural groups of adolescents with gifts and talents.</div><div>The Miville-Guzman Universality Scale-Short (Fuertes et al., 2000) was selected as the instrument of focus. The instrument was piloted, and the data analyzed using confirmatory factor analysis and reliability analysis. Cognitive interviews with participants were also used to revise the items. A combination of canonical function analysis and qualitative responses were used to analyze participants’ (n=308) growth in cultural responsiveness over the course of the summer enrichment program. Finally, interviews with teachers and open-response answers from students were used to find the most effective pedagogical strategies for educating multicultural students.</div><div>Findings include a revised M-GUDS-S instrument for adolescents with gifts and talents (AM-GUDS-S), evidence that multicultural enrichment programs can have a positive effect on student intercultural relations with profiles for how those relations develop over a two-week period, and a series of pedagogical strategies that can be used by educators to facilitate learning for groups of domestically, internationally, and linguistically diverse students.</div>

<p dir="ltr">The Arabian Peninsula’s diverse environmental landscapes have profoundly influenced its internal cultures and shaped its interactions with the wider world. However, there remains a persistent tendency to view this region as isolated and disconnected from global dynamics. This anthology seeks to challenge that misconception by situating Arabia firmly within a global context, emphasizing its environmental diversity and interconnectedness. It serves as a comprehensive educational resource for undergraduate students and engages a broader audience interested in the peninsula’s cultural and environmental heritage. The collection explores three key themes: the cultural and economic history of coffee, the interconnectedness of the Red Sea’s coral reefs with the peninsula, and the richness of the Arabian Desert. Beginning in the bustling markets, Jean de La Roque and Sir John Malcolm’s accounts of the early coffee trade highlight its profound economic and cultural impacts. Insights from T.E. Lawrence and Gertrude Bell, along with Ali Al-Naimi’s narrative, trace coffee’s evolution from a regional commodity into a modern global economic force, illustrating how this simple bean became integral to the peninsula’s identity and its connections with the wider world.</p><p dir="ltr">Bridging the gap between land and sea, the anthology transitions to the Red Sea’s coral reefs as a symbol of environmental diversity. Through the narratives of voyagers like Emily Ruete, pilgrims such as Shakib Arslan and Lady Evelyn Cobbold, and adventurers like Henri de Monfreid, this section portrays how these marine ecosystems have facilitated cultural exchanges, navigation, and personal transformation. The coral reefs are depicted not merely as biological wonders thriving under extreme conditions, but as integral elements that connect the peninsula with surrounding seas, emphasizing Arabia’s connectedness with the ancient trade routes and modern shipping networks. The final section re-examines the Arabian Desert, challenging its perception as a barren wasteland. Through the observations of Carsten Niebuhr, the travels of Freya Stark, the narratives of Abdelrahman Munif, and the memoirs of Huda Al-Ghoson, the anthology unveils the desert’s cultural and historical richness. It illustrates the adaptability of life in the desert and its significant role in economic and cultural exchanges, highlighting the desert as a space of vitality and heritage rather than desolation. By integrating the stories of coffee, coral reefs, and the desert, this anthology offers a comprehensive view of how these elements have shaped—and been shaped by—the dynamic environment of the Arabian Peninsula. It bridges the gap between land and sea to reflect the region’s environmental diversity and global interconnectedness, providing a holistic perspective that honors the full spectrum of the Arabian Peninsula’s identity. This collection underscores the importance of recognizing Arabia’s integral role in global environmental and cultural systems, fostering a more nuanced and connected understanding of the region. </p><p><br></p>