Conducting rights-based short-term study abroad experiences

ABSTRACT

The number of short-term study abroad trips has been increasing and the majority of social work programs conduct them, often including service learning experiences. These trips can help students learn about countries and cultures other than their own and thus improve their ability to provide effective services. However, if not thoughtfully developed and executed, these trips can be nothing more than ‘voluntourism,’ and can violate social work ethics, including social justice, service, and dignity and worth of the person. Therefore, it is necessary for social work educators to ensure they are developing these experiences in a rights-based fashion that centers on the needs of the community. This article discusses how to apply the rights-based framework to these experiences with specific examples to promote a quality experience for all.

KEYWORDS:

• Human rights
• rights-based approach
• study abroad
• service learning
• short-term study abroad

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Susan Mapp

Susan Mapp is Professor of Social Work and Director of Field Education at Elizabethtown College, USA. Her research interests include human rights, international social work, and human trafficking.

Karen Rice

Karen Rice is an Associate Professor of social work at Millersville University.  Her areas of teaching and research include social justice, human rights, international social work, and social work education.