Experiencing India : choice, communication and individual change

Western Sydney University had ten years' experience of sending students on international internships prior to the introduction of the New Colombo Plan (NCP) by the Australian Government. WSU also has as a graduate attribute an ability to apply their knowledge to diverse contexts. This paper identifies issues emerging from this level of experience in the international internship space. The shift from an individual and independent international experience to a broader program offered to students, has seen increased communication and group problems emerge. This is despite a rigorous recruitment and selection process used to ensure the suitability of students travelling to countries such as India and Vietnam. Gibson's (2004) situated learning framework is utilised to analyse the recruitment and selection process. A greater emphasis on understanding the comparison of the pre-departure context of the student to the re-entry context of the student allows understanding of future adjustments to improve the overall mobility experience. The major recommendation is significant support for student adjustments pre-departure, in the early stages of the internship experience, and following their return to Australia.