ATTITUDE OF ALLIED HEALTH SCIENCES STUDENTS EXPERIENCED IN SHORT-TERM ACADEMIC AND STUDENT EXCHANGE PROGRAM AT UNIVERSITIES IN ASEAN

Abstract

The purposes of this research was to identify the views of Allied Health Sciences students who experienced in the short-term Academic and Student Exchange Program (ASEP) at universities in ASEAN about academic and social experiences. This study was a qualitative research using descriptive approach. The participants were seven exchange students (two men and five women) who had at least two years background either in Health Science or Applied Thai Traditional Medicine and participated in 168 hours of Academic and Student Exchange Program. Four of all participants were sent to a university in Laos PDR, and other three students were sent to a university in Vietnam. Data collection in this research employed an in-depth interview using semi-structured interviewing approach. The research proved that students gained more academic and social experiences although they were personally concerned with lack of language proficiency, inadequate knowledge and skills, and social distances before going abroad, new experiences and diversity in the different cultures motivated the students to welcome and enjoy with the concerns. This outcomes of the study have been contributing to develop the short-term exchange program towards the long-term program and to shed light on the students to be sent outbound next academic year.