Student and teacher partnerships to promote global learning in a short-term mobility program

Internationalisation in contemporary higher education is one strategy that aims to ensure graduates are prepared to work and live in a global community (Leask, 2013). One approach is to provide opportunities for students to undertake part of their study abroad at partner institutions. We explored how peer learning between visiting students and the hosts may contribute to their intercultural competency, using a 4-week short-term mobility program to Sri Lanka to study agricultural sustainability and biodiversity as a case study. A unique feature of this case study is that a group of three Australian students were partners with a Sri Lankan student throughout the program. Students were encouraged to form their own groups within a few days of arrival, which provided time for the students to settle into their new environment and to get to know each other. The student partners worked together on their final in-country report, which could address any aspect of the study tour and delivered to the faculty at the end of the program.