Bringing the Learning Home: Programs to Enhance Study Abroad Outcomes in Australian Universities

International student mobility is an increasingly important element in Australian universities today, and study abroad and exchange, as an integral part of this, is recognised as contributing both to important generic graduate qualities such as globally-oriented citizenship, and to campus internationalisation more generally. The number of students undertaking exchange or short-term international placements is growing. However, concomitant development of support for and resources to enhance outcomes for students participating in these programs has been neglected. Consequently, a critical educational and learning opportunity has been left undeveloped. Starting from the premise that the value of international student exchange for both individual students and their Australian campuses can be significantly increased through structured support, the aim of the Bringing the Learning Home (BTLH) project was to enrich the study abroad and exchange experience for Australian students by creating and disseminating learning and teaching materials framed around appropriate learning outcomes.