In a world of global connections, increased trade, technology and transportation, global competency is becoming an increasingly important skill, especially in American higher education. Studying abroad is one opportunity that has proven to increase global lenses and allows for increased understanding of the world.
Studying abroad, in the context of Northern Ireland, has proven to be a catalyst for growth and development through community engagement and opportunities for curiosity in a new environment for several Taylor students currently studying in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Immersion into Northern Irish culture and connections with the community have been a part of the program that have left a lasting impact.
Studying abroad has generally been shown to build self-efficacy and cultural competency through studies and continued community engagement. A study conducted by researchers at the American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology showed this through their study of sixteen study abroad students to Nicaragua and Malawi.
“Gains in self-efficacy and cultural awareness were highly correlated with students’ clinical ratings in cultural competence as judged by their supervisors,” the article said. “Two main themes were identified from the journal entries: continuing community involvement and growth in cultural self-efficacy.”
Renee Hoylman, a junior public history major at Taylor University, said her time within her community internship in Northern Ireland has allowed for increasing opportunities to grow as a learner and student.
Her time at National Museums of Northern Ireland has focused on assisting Siobhan McLaughlin, archivist of Harland and Wolff ship plans, with her project of accessibility and conservation of the collection from the company that produced The Titanic.
Hoylman said working on this project and with her colleagues has helped foster her love of learning and highlighted the interconnectedness of history and literature inNorthern Ireland.
“It has been really sweet to see the way my co-workers are learners,” she said. “They are very invested in learning more and learning with depth. It is really wonderful to see the way that they examine multiple perspectives and seek to then have a fuller, broader view of an opinion or topic.”
In addition to growing in curiosity, studying abroad has also given the opportunity for development of skills and career informing.
The Frontiers: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Study Abroad found that studying abroad contributed to positive career outcomes that are associated with study abroad and cultural engagement (Hubbard, A., & Rexeisen, R. J. (2020)). h
“From the perspective of the student, our data provides strong evidence that [Study Abroad] can increase opportunities for employment and create conditions or predispositions that will contribute to long-term career development,” the article said.
Junior Meredith McFarland, a current Northern Irish Studies Program student, said her placement and experiences in Northern Ireland have continued to enforce her current goals and career path.
Her current work in Belfast is with Peace Players, an international nonprofit that focuses on peace building, community building and leadership training through sports such as basketball and soccer. The organization began in Northern Ireland as a way to encourage peace building after times of conflict in the 1960s-1970s in an era commonly called “The Troubles.”
As a sports management and global studies double major, McFarland said her current and past experiences abroad have affirmed the line of work she wants to go into, encouraged practical and faith-based skills, and increased her knowledge of different organizational and nonprofit types.
“I want to do girls’ sports nonprofit work for peacebuilding and conflict resolution in particular in Sub-Saharan Africa,” she said. “It has been interesting to see how you can use some of those same strategies and plug them into different political or religious atmospheres in some of those environments.”
Studying abroad through Taylor University also adds the unique aspect of faith integration to the study abroad formula. Through intercultural exchanges there are ample opportunities to engage and be reminded of foundational beliefs of one's faith.
Sophomore Abby Zinnecker did not expect that engagement with her faith and spiritual growth would be a part of her study abroad experience. In addition to growing in confidence, she said she also has grown in patience.
“There is a spiritual aspect to growth that I did not really expect,” she said. “I thought I was relying on God, and then when I got here, I thought ‘I am going to solve all of my problems,’ and obviously I cannot really do that. I think I have grown greatly in patience.”
Short-term study abroad, and specifically Taylor’s Northern Ireland Study Abroad program, provides opportunities for students to grow as learners, skill builders, and in their faith through community engagement and cross-cultural experiences.
