Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'And Studies Abroad'

Abstract

The number of students at Karlstad University, who have studied abroad, has increased for many years. The university is working towards a vision of becoming more internationally recognized among universities in Sweden and abroad. They are therefore working intensively with what the university calls the internationalization process, which is to be carried out between 2006 and 2010. This process will help them to increase the quality of education and make the students more competitive on the national and international markets. This can be done for example by offering more courses in foreign languages, introducing an international credit system and exchange programs.

The purpose of our thesis is to investigate what motivates the Swedish students at Karlstad University to study abroad. We conducted a research concerning the students at Karlstad University who studied abroad during 2007 and 2008. These students have studied in many different countries ranging from Asia to America.

We have chosen to focus on the following questions to find out why students study abroad and what the university can do to influence more students to study abroad:

• What motivates Swedish students at Karlstad University to study abroad?

• Which factors might or might not have influenced the students when they chose where to study?

• What is Karlstad University doing to influence the students, and what can they do to persuade more students to study in a foreign country?

In order to reach answers for our questions we have conducted a questionnaire and sent these to those students who were abroad in 2007 and 2008. We sent our questionnaires by E-mail and regular mail to a total of 195 students. We also interviewed the international student guidance councilor at Karlstad University in order to find out what the university is doing to motivate students to study abroad.

We have studied different theories in relation to consumer behavior and the consumer buying process. With this theory and the responses we got from the students we found out what the major factors were that motivated students to study abroad and what the university can do to influence more students to study in a foreign country.

From our findings, some major factors that influenced students to study abroad were, personal development, improve language skills and to obtain international character in their studies. In order to motivate more students to study abroad we found that it was important with communication between students who have been abroad and those who have not yet been abroad. Students who have studied in a foreign country also thought that Karlstad University must become more skilful and competent regarding the process of applying to study abroad.

This qualitative study explores the experience of eight Mexican immigrant DACAmented students who have studied abroad in their country of origin in a study abroad program taking place through a California State University. Using a Latina/o critical race theory framework, the study explores the journey of participants navigating the immigration process, traveling, and studying abroad in their native country and finally returning back to the United States. Through Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, students petitioned for Advance Parole for educational purposes to participate in a program that allowed them to have an educational experience. Studying abroad would only be a dream for students until they were granted Advance Parole. There, participants took courses in Spanish, immersed and learned about Mexico’s history and culture. Additionally, participants were able to return to visit and reconnect with family members. In doing so, students reconnected with their Mexican identity, but by returning to the country, they were able to access their heritage and roots.

This thesis is conducted for Monitor Industriutveckling AB. The company grows fast and is ready to consider the expansion of its business abroad. The details how to pro-ceed with the expansion are yet to be set. The purpose of this work is to examine dif-ferent options to aid the company management select the most meaningful way to proceed.

The analytical framework used consists of three well-known business theories. There are the New Capabilities analysis, the PEST analysis and finally the five forces model. Robert Grant’s New Capabilities analysis shows that especially the strategic alliances capability could be an interesting new capability and a way to grow for Monitor. The PEST-analysis proves that Finland can offer good opportunities for Monitor’s type of company because the country itself is very IT-oriented and political and economical as well as social forces can support Monitor’s business. Finland can also be a gateway to eastern-European countries. Finally we have Michael Porter’s five forces model. Monitor has lots of potential customers in Finland. There is a substantial amount of small and medium-sized companies in the manufacturing industry. Taxes and legisla-tion will not be a problem when entering Finland, as they are similar compared to Sweden. There are no big cultural differences between Finland and Sweden. These countries even share the same language, Swedish, which is a quite unique advantage.

I have collected the empirical data of this thesis mostly by personal interviews. Here I show that Monitor’s current customers in Finland would prefer to see their supplier present in the same country. They would also appreciate Finnish-speaking personnel and support. I have also interviewed business specialists. According to them, Monitor would easily adapt to the Finnish business culture and make its product successful. The right attitude in Finnish business environment would just boost Monitor’s suc-cess. The strength of the Monitor product is its user-friendliness. The weakness and at the same time its opportunity is that the company grows very fast. When a company grows it must be ready to make big decisions and choose where to go and at the same time be there to support each and every present customer.

The conclusion is that Monitor has good possibilities to become a successful company in Finland. From a marketing point of view, Monitor should invest in marketing ac-tions and make itself known and seen among its target group. The recommended way to enter Finland would be to find a good distributor for Monitor’s product. This entry method would be the one with the smallest risk and it is also probably the quickest way to proceed. I recommend Monitor to choose a distributor that can complete its product-palette with Monitor.

This qualitative study explored the experiences of African American collegiate women during a service learning program to the non-traditional study abroad location of Indonesia. The Integrated Model of College Choice, Human Capital Theory, and Experiential Learning Theory formulated the conceptual model and theoretical framework undergirding this research endeavor. The literature review comprised a discussion of non-traditional study abroad locations, study abroad trends of underrepresented groups, navigation of the study abroad decision process, and service learning as a study abroad option. Four research questions explored participants’ descriptions of the experience, social and cultural challenges encountered, changes and learning outcomes achieved, and recommendations for improvement. The findings from individual interviews, a focus group, and a document review yielded four emergent themes, including the development of transnational competence, personal growth and transformation, service learning programmatic considerations, and diversity perspectives.

Conclusions of this study indicated that transnational competence was developed by interacting and communicating through a language barrier and gaining exposure to different social and cultural norms, living conditions, religious beliefs, and educational system. Adaptability, flexibility, empathy, respect, and appreciation were achieved learning outcomes and contributed to the development of a global skill set helping students navigate cross-cultural dynamics.

Students’ articulation of preparedness, a broadened worldview, and the desire for future international endeavors demonstrated that a short-term service learning study abroad opportunity yielded transnational competence. Students’ experiences of diversity abroad highlighted the relative absence of African American collegiate women from the study abroad landscape in a non-traditional location. The higher education apparatus has a role in reversing the trend of low African American college student participation in study abroad by addressing programmatic considerations, including the provision of more information, improved program planning, and the availability of financing. Creating an institutional culture in which international education is a strategic priority, expectation, and norm can develop students’ transnational competence and positions African American students more competitively for academic and professional success in a globalized world.

Background and problem:

The industry of today is changing and many firms chose to internationalize due to the increased price competition. It is often cheaper to produce in a low cost country and sometimes it can be strategic to produce there in order to gain market shares.

Purpose:

The purpose of this thesis is to study the decision proc-ess when manufacturing firms choose to locate production abroad.

Theoretical framework:

Decisions have different grade of rationality and complexity. To make a decision to establish abroad is a complicated decision, which often involves many people, requires time and information in order to avoid uncertainty. The people involved in the process need to be able to both gather and use the information in order to do as good decision as possible. Many factors affect the decision concerning foreign establishment, the most occurring are low costs, better market structure and the growth potential in the area of interest.

Empirical findings:

ABA Group, Balton AB, ITAB Shop Concept and Stilexo Industry AB are the four firms in which the decision process is investigated. They have all experienced increasing competition in the more globalized market, which has forced them to establish abroad in order to survive.

Analysis and final discussion:

For all firms investigated, the decision to establish abroad was influenced by availability of information and time, the people involved and their ability to use the information. All these factors are affected by uncertainties, from which the firms not completely can protect themselves. To do as good decision as possible the firms need to be careful and consider all factors that influence the outcome.

SUMMARY

Title: Inter(man)tional Assignments?

– A Study Concerning Women’s Possibilities to Work Abroad

Problem: How do women perceive their possibilities to obtain an international assignment?

Purpose: The main purpose with this study is to create an understanding for women’s possibilities to obtain an international assignment. To be able to achieve this and to obtain a more faceted picture two types of sectors have been examined; larger Swedish corporations within the Swedish business world and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. We will further elucidate how women within the two sectors may perhaps learn from each other’s experiences, this to create new knowledge regarding women on international assignments.

Theory: In this study concepts linked to the fields of culture, management and international business are included; more pecifically the areas of international assignments, gender based differences, female characteristics, the glass ceiling and networks. A second theory part has been added after the completion of the empirical data collection to create a better and broader foundation for our study. Dual-careers, male structures, male bonding and old boys’ networks are included in this part. The supplemented theories have been placed previous to our analysis.

Method: We have performed a qualitative study from a gender based perspective with a focus upon female expatriates. The study has an abductive approach and we relate to a hermeneutical epistemology. Telephone interviews have been performed with female respondents who currently possess and international assignment or previously been an expatriate.

Result: The result of our study shows that there is no clear-cut answer to how women perceive their possibilities to obtain a foreign assignment, since their experiences are complex and individual. However, the core of our answer to the research question distinguishes a few aspects which are common among the respondents. The major cause affecting women’s possibilities is the issue of dual-career couples. The spouse’s and family’s situation is the main reason for the lack of women in these assignments. Another aspect which appears to be of great importance is the lack of women in leading positions. More women are needed on each and every managerial level to allow more women to achieve higher positions. If this is accomplished there will be a larger pool of competent and skilled females to choose from when selecting expatriates. Even though we have studied two diverse sectors, the issues and problems for the women seem to be the same. Still, both sectors have something to learn from each other. First, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs should improve their recruitment process. Second, something the Swedish business world can learn from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs is to support their expatriates in a better way before and during their assignment abroad.

Abstract

Introduction

Boarders are shrinking, the world becomes more internationalized and the globalization of society has resulted in increasing demands on universities to adjust their education to the labor market. A growing interest among Swedish students to study abroad and re-ceive an international experience has increased as well. The changes in the environment have affected organizations’ recruitment processes and how they manage their human resources.

Problem

Today an ordinary education is not enough, you need to have something unique, some-thing that makes you stand out in the crowd. As a student you are encouraged to study abroad, and many view this as a possibility to broaden their competence. However, it is not known how future employers value and compensate this experience.

Purpose

The purpose of this thesis is to examine how university studies abroad are valued when recruiting white-collar workers. The ambition is to provide prospective and current stu-dents with an understanding of the employers’ view of the subject.

Method

The empirical data have been gathered by using a qualitative approach and face-to-face interviews have been conducted with the human resource manager at eleven medium- and large-sized organizations, located in Norrköping, Linköping, and Jönköping.

Conclusions

We have come to the conclusion that it is difficult to determine specific competences that are preferable in the selection of white-collar workers, however the candidate’s unique competences are somehow reflected in the personality. Organizations view the study abroad experience as rewarding for the candidates personal development and ma-turity. The university study abroad experience might not be valued higher in the future, but the more knowledge and information available, the larger are the benefits for both the organizations and the candidates.

Introduction

Boarders are shrinking, the world becomes more internationalized and the globalization of society has resulted in increasing demands on universities to adjust their education to the labor market. A growing interest among Swedish students to study abroad and receive an international experience has increased as well. The changes in the environment have affected organizations’ recruitment processes and how they manage their human resources.

Problem

Today an ordinary education is not enough, you need to have something unique, something that makes you stand out in the crowd. As a student you are encouraged to study abroad, and many view this as a possibility to broaden their competence. However, it is not known how future employers value and compensate this experience.

Purpose

The purpose of this thesis is to examine how university studies abroad are valued when recruiting white-collar workers. The ambition is to provide prospective and current stu-dents with an understanding of the employers’ view of the subject.

Method

The empirical data have been gathered by using a qualitative approach and face-to-face interviews have been conducted with the human resource manager at eleven medium- and large-sized organizations, located in Norrköping, Linköping, and Jönköping.

Conclusions

We have come to the conclusion that it is difficult to determine specific competences that are preferable in the selection of white-collar workers, however the candidate’s unique competences are somehow reflected in the personality. Organizations view the study abroad experience as rewarding for the candidates personal development and ma-turity. The university study abroad experience might not be valued higher in the future, but the more knowledge and information available, the larger are the benefits for both the organizations and the candidates.

Purpose:

The purpose of this thesis is to describe and to understand how a company within Swedish fashion industry, namely Frank Dandy, enters foreign mar-kets.

African American high school students are underrepresented in study abroad programs, and their lack of intercultural skills and international understanding can impede their personal and professional development, and limit their career opportunities. The purpose of this descriptive qualitative case study was to explore the influence of intercultural experiences through study abroad and immersion programs on African American high school students’ intercultural competence. The conceptual framework drew on 2 theories: Bennett’s development model of intercultural sensitivity and Kolb’s experiential learning. Data from interviews and focus groups with 13 African American high school students, 2 parents, and 2 teachers as well as documents and field notes from a Northeast United States urban high school addressed the research questions pertaining to how students perceived travel abroad that fostered intercultural competence skills as well as how teachers and parents perceived students’ personal development. Findings resulted from provisional codes used to identify pattern of codes, and central themes that indicated predeparture seminars and reflective practices enhanced intercultural skills. The portfolios suggested that most students became more reflective and accepting of cultural differences after their sojourn abroad. Recommendations based on the findings suggest increasing homestay experiences and planning and predeparture trainings. Future research is needed on how to attract more male African American students to such programs. The findings may contribute to positive social change by encouraging investment in homestay study abroad and immersion programs with adequate preparation and planning at inner city high schools that might foster intercultural competence skills.

Problem: How do Barilla position and communicate its brand in the Swedish market and how do Swedish consumers recognize the Company’s positioning? Do they perceive the Brand in line with the intended positioning?

Purpose: Investigating in which way and to which extents Barilla achieves and communicates a suitable positioning in the Swedish market. On the other hand, assessing how consumers and potential customers perceive the brand Barilla, evaluating if they perceive it in line with its intended positioning.

Method: The research is mainly based on primary data: the Company´s perspective through a personal interview with Barilla´s brand manager; the consumers´ perspectives through 300 questionnaires distributed outside ICA Maxi in Hälla (Västerås).

Theories: Brand equity; Brand positioning; Promotional mix.

Conclusions: Barilla pursues a suitable positioning in Sweden, positioning itself on attributes which are valuable, and sought by customers. Consumers´ perception of the intended positioning is generally correct, since the main aspects which the Company focused on are commonly identified and considered familiar by the public