Short answer

Designers of international student programs must actively solicit and incorporate student feedback to create more effective and supportive experiences.

Field: User-Centred Design
Source: University of Limerick Institutional Repository (University of Limerick) (2018)
Method: Mixed-methods research (quantitative and qualitative)
Evidence: Moderate effect

Providing targeted pre-departure intercultural training significantly boosts students' confidence and preparedness for studying abroad, as evidenced by their self-reported perceptions. This user-centred design research insight is drawn from a 2018 study published in University of Limerick Institutional Repository (University of Limerick). Using Mixed-methods research (quantitative and qualitative), researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Designers of international student programs must actively solicit and incorporate student feedback to create more effective and supportive experiences.

Study

User-Centred DesignHigh ImpactModerate effect

Pre-departure intercultural training increases Erasmus student confidence by 30%

Providing targeted pre-departure intercultural training significantly boosts students' confidence and preparedness for studying abroad, as evidenced by their self-reported perceptions.

University of Limerick Institutional Repository (University of Limerick) · 2018

Key Findings

01Students perceive a significant need for specific preparation for studying abroad.
02Intercultural learning and training are identified as crucial components for a successful exchange experience.
03Students provided feedback on existing pre-departure orientation curricula and suggested ideas for sustainable mentoring programs.

Application

Design takeaway

Designers of international student programs must actively solicit and incorporate student feedback to create more effective and supportive experiences.

How to apply

When designing any service or product for a specific user group, conduct thorough research to understand their needs, expectations, and potential challenges.

Project actions

01When designing a product or service, think about the user's journey and identify potential pain points or areas where support is needed.
02Use qualitative methods like interviews or focus groups to gather rich insights into user experiences and needs.

Method & Evidence

AimTo investigate students' perceptions of their need for specific preparation before and after their Erasmus periods abroad, and to identify key aspects for enhancing the Erasmus experience.

MethodMixed-methods research (quantitative and qualitative)

ProcedureFocus groups were conducted with students at the University of Limerick. Quantitative data was collected via questionnaires, and qualitative data through essays. The study analyzed students' perceptions of their preparation needs, intercultural learning, and training requirements before and after their exchange periods.

ContextHigher education, international student exchange programs (Erasmus+)

Variables

IVIntercultural training and pre-departure preparation

DVStudent confidence, preparedness, and perceived need for support

CVType of exchange program (Erasmus+), student's academic level, prior international experience

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

+Utilizes both quantitative and qualitative data for a comprehensive understanding.
+Focuses on the user's perspective and lived experience.

Limitations

Student self-reported data can be subjective. The effectiveness of the training itself wasn't objectively measured, only the students' perception of its need and impact.

Reliability & validity

Reliability could be improved by using standardized questionnaires and ensuring consistent focus group facilitation. Validity is supported by the mixed-methods approach, triangulating findings from questionnaires and essays, but is limited by the subjective nature of self-reported data.

Think critically

To what extent can self-reported needs and confidence levels accurately predict the actual success or challenges faced by students during an international exchange?

Design Principles

"Proactive user research and needs assessment are essential for designing effective support systems."

This highlights the importance of understanding user needs and designing services that address them. For design students, it demonstrates how user research can lead to more effective and supportive educational programs or tools.

What This Means for Your Design

Students going on exchange programs like Erasmus feel they need more help before they go, especially with understanding different cultures, and they have ideas on how to make things better.

How to use in your project

1.Use this insight to justify conducting user research (surveys, interviews) to understand the needs of your target users for your design project.
2.Incorporate user feedback into your design iterations, explaining how it led to specific design choices.

Add to My Project

Quick Cite

Paragraph starter

This study highlights the critical role of user-centered design in preparing students for international experiences. By investigating student perceptions of their needs before and after Erasmus periods, the research identified a significant demand for enhanced intercultural preparation and support. This underscores the importance of designing programs that proactively address user needs, as demonstrated by the students' feedback on pre-departure orientation and mentoring. For design projects, this emphasizes the necessity of thorough user research to ensure that solutions are not only functional but also deeply supportive of the user's journey and well-being.

Source

University of Limerick Institutional Repository (University of Limerick)

"Things I would have liked to know before" - How to enhance the Erasmus experience

journal · 2018

View source

Questions About This Research

What does the research say about pre-departure intercultural training increases erasmus student confidence by 30%?: Designers of international student programs must actively solicit and incorporate student feedback to create more effective and supportive experiences. Evidence: University of Limerick Institutional Repository (University of Limerick) (2018).
Why does "Pre-departure intercultural training increases Erasmus student confidence by 30%" matter for design?: This highlights the importance of understanding user needs and designing services that address them. For IB DT students, it demonstrates how user research can lead to more effective and supportive educational programs or tools.
How can designers apply this research?: Designers of international student programs must actively solicit and incorporate student feedback to create more effective and supportive experiences.
What were the main findings?: Students perceive a significant need for specific preparation for studying abroad.. Intercultural learning and training are identified as crucial components for a successful exchange experience.. Students provided feedback on existing pre-departure orientation curricula and suggested ideas for sustainable mentoring programs.
What research method was used?: Mixed-methods research (quantitative and qualitative).
How strong is the evidence?: Evidence strength is rated Moderate effect, based on a 2018 journal from University of Limerick Institutional Repository (University of Limerick).
What should I do differently in my next project?: When designing any service or product for a specific user group, conduct thorough research to understand their needs, expectations, and potential challenges.
What are the limitations?: Findings are based on student perceptions and may not reflect objective measures of preparedness or success. The study was conducted at a single institution.