Differences as catalysts for professional learning—Participating in a student exchange program between Sweden and Uganda

The aim was to describe the experiences of some university students and the effect on their own learning and professional development by participating in an exchange program. Data were derived from two focus group interviews with students (n = 12) who enrolled in a 12-week international exchange pro...

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Main Authors: Sofia Vikström, Julius Kamwesiga, Andrew Mubangizi, Susanne Guidetti
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2017-01-01
Series:Cogent Education
Subjects:
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/2331186X.2017.1316348
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author Sofia Vikström
Julius Kamwesiga
Andrew Mubangizi
Susanne Guidetti
author_facet Sofia Vikström
Julius Kamwesiga
Andrew Mubangizi
Susanne Guidetti
author_sort Sofia Vikström
collection DOAJ
description The aim was to describe the experiences of some university students and the effect on their own learning and professional development by participating in an exchange program. Data were derived from two focus group interviews with students (n = 12) who enrolled in a 12-week international exchange program between: (a) the occupational therapy education department at the Institute of Allied Health and Management Sciences in Kampala and its equivalent b) the Karolinska Institutet (KI), Sweden. The findings comprised five categories reflecting the students learning experiences: (1) Learning through the unfamiliar, (2) Differences as catalysts for professional learning, (3) The importance of interaction with others for beneficial learning, (4) Learning related changes in professional identity and one’s own persona, and (5) Experienced transfer of learning toward a sustainable lifelong learning style. The findings reflected a spectra of similarities between the students, almost regardless of their background and culture, also that students can learn substantially by being confronted by the unfamiliarity during an international exchange.
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spelling doaj.art-93e5085c65cf4fbdb3b0625fa14ed7fe2023-09-03T04:31:32ZengTaylor & Francis GroupCogent Education2331-186X2017-01-014110.1080/2331186X.2017.13163481316348Differences as catalysts for professional learning—Participating in a student exchange program between Sweden and UgandaSofia Vikström0Julius Kamwesiga1Andrew Mubangizi2Susanne Guidetti3Care Sciences and Society, Division of Occupational TherapyCare Sciences and Society, Division of Occupational TherapyInstitute of Allied Health and Management Sciences-MulagoCare Sciences and Society, Division of Occupational TherapyThe aim was to describe the experiences of some university students and the effect on their own learning and professional development by participating in an exchange program. Data were derived from two focus group interviews with students (n = 12) who enrolled in a 12-week international exchange program between: (a) the occupational therapy education department at the Institute of Allied Health and Management Sciences in Kampala and its equivalent b) the Karolinska Institutet (KI), Sweden. The findings comprised five categories reflecting the students learning experiences: (1) Learning through the unfamiliar, (2) Differences as catalysts for professional learning, (3) The importance of interaction with others for beneficial learning, (4) Learning related changes in professional identity and one’s own persona, and (5) Experienced transfer of learning toward a sustainable lifelong learning style. The findings reflected a spectra of similarities between the students, almost regardless of their background and culture, also that students can learn substantially by being confronted by the unfamiliarity during an international exchange.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/2331186X.2017.1316348international mobilityoccupational therapistteachinghigher education
spellingShingle Sofia Vikström
Julius Kamwesiga
Andrew Mubangizi
Susanne Guidetti
Differences as catalysts for professional learning—Participating in a student exchange program between Sweden and Uganda
Cogent Education
international mobility
occupational therapist
teaching
higher education
title Differences as catalysts for professional learning—Participating in a student exchange program between Sweden and Uganda
title_full Differences as catalysts for professional learning—Participating in a student exchange program between Sweden and Uganda
title_fullStr Differences as catalysts for professional learning—Participating in a student exchange program between Sweden and Uganda
title_full_unstemmed Differences as catalysts for professional learning—Participating in a student exchange program between Sweden and Uganda
title_short Differences as catalysts for professional learning—Participating in a student exchange program between Sweden and Uganda
title_sort differences as catalysts for professional learning participating in a student exchange program between sweden and uganda
topic international mobility
occupational therapist
teaching
higher education
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/2331186X.2017.1316348
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