The impact of study abroad experiences on students' personal and professional development, with a focus on Thai and European students

Abstract

Today more than ever, global educational cooperation is crucial in order to foster cultural awareness and create a more interconnected, tolerant, and knowledgeable world that is better equipped to address the challenges of the 21st century. The primary challenge remains the reduction of barriers to the physical mobility of students, in order to create a balance of opportunities in the international job market and to foster personal growth and cross-cultural awareness. This paper examines the impact of long-term mobility on the personal and professional growth of Thai and European students to further demonstrate how long distance experiences abroad offer in terms of opportunities for self-growth. This research stems from the desire to encourage students to participate in study abroad experiences and highlight their importance in a globalized world.