{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,21]],"date-time":"2026-04-21T04:17:09Z","timestamp":1776745029717,"version":"3.51.2"},"reference-count":34,"publisher":"BMJ","issue":"10","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,27]],"date-time":"2025-10-27T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1761523200000},"content-version":"unspecified","delay-in-days":26,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["bmj.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["BMJ Open"],"accepted":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,3]]},"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2025,10]]},"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Objectives<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>As global health education becomes more embedded in university curricula, the availability of experiential learning opportunities in this field has expanded as well. These programmes offer students valuable exposure to diverse cultural perspectives and help develop essential competencies in global health. However, concerns have arisen regarding the persistence of colonial-era dynamics, power imbalances and the potential negative impacts on host organisations in low- and middle-income countries. Much of the existing literature on this topic centres on short-term medical student experiences and is focused on the perspectives of the sending organisations. This study aims to fill this gap by examining a semester-long undergraduate global health experiential learning programme through the perspectives of host organisation staff.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Design<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>This qualitative case study draws on interviews with 18 key informants from host organisations across seven countries. The research design, data collection and analysis were developed using an analytical framework based on recommendations made by previous studies.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Setting<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Host organisations across seven countries participated in the study. Interviews were conducted remotely via Zoom. The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, coded in Dedoose software and analysed for emerging patterns and themes.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Participants<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Eighteen key informants from host organisations were interviewed, representing seven countries \u2014 Tanzania, Ghana, Mexico, India, Bangladesh, Australia and the Philippines \u2014 and a range of institutions including research institutes, government agencies and UN bodies.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Participants generally viewed their engagement in experiential learning courses positively. They emphasised the importance of their role in mentoring American and other foreign global health students, building their research skills and cultural competency, and providing valuable insights into power dynamics, local health systems and the wider context in which global health operates. Beyond financial remuneration, participants emphasised multiple non-financial benefits for host organisations. The study identified three key themes in developing strong programmes: partnership, communication and cultural competence. These findings reinforce the value of longer-term programmes and offer actionable recommendations for their continued evolution in global health education.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjopen-2025-104435","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,28]],"date-time":"2025-10-28T18:26:33Z","timestamp":1761675993000},"page":"e104435","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1136\/crossmarkpolicy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Host perceptions of an undergraduate semester abroad: strengthening partnerships in global health education"],"prefix":"10.1136","volume":"15","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2317-6872","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Myriam","family":"Vuckovic","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Global Health, Georgetown University, Washington, District of Columbia, USA"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Joseph","family":"Mulinge","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Global Health, Georgetown University, Washington, District of Columbia, USA"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5388-7790","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Stephen","family":"Ledet","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Margaret","family":"Baker","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Global Health, Georgetown University, Washington, District of Columbia, USA"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"239","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,28]]},"reference":[{"key":"2025120415084021000_15.10.e104435.1","unstructured":"The Gallup Organization . 2015 gallup-purdue index survey (undergraduate): great jobs, great lives. the relationship between student debt, experiences and perceptions of college worth. 2015."},{"key":"2025120415084021000_15.10.e104435.2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"230","DOI":"10.1016\/j.hpe.2019.11.002","article-title":"Experiential Learning and Cultural Competence: What Do Participants in Short-Term Experiences in Global Health Learn About Culture?","volume":"6","author":"Cahn","year":"2020","journal-title":"Health Professions Education"},{"key":"2025120415084021000_15.10.e104435.3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"196","DOI":"10.1016\/j.puhe.2015.10.030","article-title":"The benefits of experiential learning in global public health","volume":"136","author":"Hu","year":"2016","journal-title":"Public Health (Fairfax)"},{"key":"2025120415084021000_15.10.e104435.4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Kolb DA , Boyatzis RE , Mainemelis C . Experiential learning theory: previous research and new directions. Mahwah, NJ, US: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates Publishers, 2001: 227\u201347.","DOI":"10.4324\/9781410605986-9"},{"key":"2025120415084021000_15.10.e104435.5","unstructured":"Kolb D . Experiential learning: experience as the source of learning and development. Pearson Education, 2014."},{"key":"2025120415084021000_15.10.e104435.6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"03","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjgh-2021-005604","article-title":"Decolonising global health in 2021: a roadmap to move from rhetoric to reform","volume":"6","author":"Khan","year":"2021","journal-title":"BMJ Glob Health"},{"key":"2025120415084021000_15.10.e104435.7","unstructured":"Pai M . Decolonizing global health: a moment to reflect on a movement. 2021. Available: https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/madhukarpai\/2021\/07\/22\/decolonizing-global-health-a-moment-to-reflect-on-a-movement [Accessed 3 Mar 2025]."},{"key":"2025120415084021000_15.10.e104435.8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.5334\/aogh.3578","article-title":"Eliminating the White Supremacy Mindset from Global Health Education","volume":"88","author":"Binagwaho","year":"2022","journal-title":"Ann Glob Health"},{"key":"2025120415084021000_15.10.e104435.9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"08","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjgh-2020-002947","article-title":"Decolonising Global (Public) Health: from Western universalism to Global pluriversalities","volume":"5","author":"Affun-Adegbulu","year":"2020","journal-title":"BMJ Glob Health"},{"key":"2025120415084021000_15.10.e104435.10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjgh-2020-002583","article-title":"Global health beyond geographical boundaries: reflections from global health education","volume":"5","author":"Herzig van Wees","year":"2020","journal-title":"BMJ Glob Health"},{"key":"2025120415084021000_15.10.e104435.11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"05","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjgh-2022-008501","article-title":"Global health education in high-income countries: confronting coloniality and power asymmetry","volume":"7","author":"Sayegh","year":"2022","journal-title":"BMJ Glob Health"},{"key":"2025120415084021000_15.10.e104435.12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"32","DOI":"10.1097\/ACM.0000000000002841","article-title":"Rethinking Goals: Transforming Short-Term Global Health Experiences Into Engagements","volume":"95","author":"Ventres","year":"2020","journal-title":"Acad Med"},{"key":"2025120415084021000_15.10.e104435.13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"460","DOI":"10.1097\/ACM.0000000000003867","article-title":"Low- and Middle-Income Country Host Perceptions of Short-Term Experiences in Global Health: A Systematic Review","volume":"96","author":"Lu","year":"2021","journal-title":"Acad Med"},{"key":"2025120415084021000_15.10.e104435.14","first-page":"1178","article-title":"Ethics and Best Practice Guidelines for Training Experiences in Global Health","volume":"83","author":"Crump","year":"2010","journal-title":"ASTMH"},{"key":"2025120415084021000_15.10.e104435.15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.7326\/M17-3361"},{"key":"2025120415084021000_15.10.e104435.16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1186\/s12992-019-0469-7","article-title":"A Comprehensive Framework to Optimize Short-Term Experiences in Global Health (STEGH)","volume":"15","author":"Shah","year":"2019","journal-title":"Global Health"},{"key":"2025120415084021000_15.10.e104435.17","unstructured":"Advocacy for Global Health Partnerships . Brocher declaration. 2020. Available: https:\/\/www.ghpartnerships.org\/brocher [Accessed 3 Mar 2025]."},{"key":"2025120415084021000_15.10.e104435.18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1186\/s12909-016-0820-0","article-title":"The future of global health education: training for equity in global health","volume":"16","author":"Adams","year":"2016","journal-title":"BMC Med Educ"},{"key":"2025120415084021000_15.10.e104435.19","first-page":"108","article-title":"Fair Trade Learning: Ethical standards for community-engaged international volunteer tourism","volume":"14","author":"Hartman","year":"2014","journal-title":"THR"},{"key":"2025120415084021000_15.10.e104435.20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1097\/acm.0000000000003473"},{"key":"2025120415084021000_15.10.e104435.21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"04","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjgh-2022-008497","article-title":"Global health educational trips: ethical, equitable, environmental?","volume":"7","author":"Velin","year":"2022","journal-title":"BMJ Glob Health"},{"key":"2025120415084021000_15.10.e104435.22","unstructured":"Krentel A , Mahmood F , Boisvert C , et al . Report_FAARE_Final_Eng_April17. 2023.03\u201330."},{"key":"2025120415084021000_15.10.e104435.23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1136\/bmj.n2658","article-title":"A call to action to reform academic global health partnerships","volume":"375","author":"Binagwaho","year":"2021","journal-title":"BMJ"},{"key":"2025120415084021000_15.10.e104435.24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.4269\/ajtmh.15-0611"},{"key":"2025120415084021000_15.10.e104435.25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"139","DOI":"10.29024\/aogh.20","article-title":"What Makes International Global Health University Partnerships Higher-Value? An Examination of Partnership Types and Activities Favoured at Four East African Universities","volume":"84","author":"Yarmoshuk","year":"2018","journal-title":"Ann Glob Health"},{"key":"2025120415084021000_15.10.e104435.26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Vu\u010dkovi\u0107 M , Neote S , Pruitt Gravley A . Experiential Learning in Global Health Education: The Impact of a Field Semester Abroad on Careers and Life Choices. Int J Res Serv Learn Community Engagem 2021;9. doi:10.37333\/001c.31310","DOI":"10.37333\/001c.31310"},{"key":"2025120415084021000_15.10.e104435.27","unstructured":"Hennink M , Hutter I , Bailey A . Qualitative research methods. 2nd edn. London: SAGE Publications, 2020."},{"key":"2025120415084021000_15.10.e104435.28","unstructured":"Yin RK . Case study research and applications: design and methods. 6th edn. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, 2018."},{"key":"2025120415084021000_15.10.e104435.29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"876","DOI":"10.1177\/23294884241263552","article-title":"Positive Communication Practices for Enhancing Collaboration","volume":"61","author":"Mickel","year":"2024","journal-title":"Int J Bus Commun"},{"key":"2025120415084021000_15.10.e104435.30","unstructured":"Wrench JS , Majocha KL , Punyanunt Carter N . Organizational communication: theory, research and practice. Washington, DC: Flat World Knowledge, 2015."},{"key":"2025120415084021000_15.10.e104435.31","unstructured":"Langton N , Robbins SP , Judge TA . Fundamentals of organizational behaviour. Toronto, ON: Pearson, 2018."},{"key":"2025120415084021000_15.10.e104435.32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"13890","DOI":"10.3390\/su132413890","article-title":"Reflecting on the Past to Shape the Future: A Systematic Review on Cross-Cultural Collaborative Learning from 2011 to 2020","volume":"13","author":"Gyasi","year":"2021","journal-title":"Sustainability"},{"key":"2025120415084021000_15.10.e104435.33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"239","DOI":"10.1016\/j.aogh.2015.03.006","article-title":"Identifying interprofessional global health competencies for 21st-century health professionals","volume":"81","author":"Jogerst","year":"2015","journal-title":"Ann Glob Health"},{"key":"2025120415084021000_15.10.e104435.34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"155","DOI":"10.1108\/EJTD-07-2014-0048","article-title":"Developing cross-cultural awareness through foreign immersion programs","volume":"40","author":"Lokkesmoe","year":"2016","journal-title":"EJTD"}],"container-title":["BMJ Open"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/syndication.highwire.org\/content\/doi\/10.1136\/bmjopen-2025-104435","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,4]],"date-time":"2025-12-04T23:15:34Z","timestamp":1764890134000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/bmjopen.bmj.com\/lookup\/doi\/10.1136\/bmjopen-2025-104435"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,10]]},"references-count":34,"journal-issue":{"issue":"10","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,28]]},"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2025,10]]}},"alternative-id":["10.1136\/bmjopen-2025-104435"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1136\/bmjopen-2025-104435","relation":{},"ISSN":["2044-6055","2044-6055"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2044-6055","type":"print"},{"value":"2044-6055","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,10]]}}}