Exploring Individual Factors Affecting Business Students’ Willingness to Study Abroad: A Case Study From the Caribbean

ABSTRACT

Despite a low rate of student participation in study abroad programs in the Caribbean, there is insufficient research about the individual factors that help determine business students’ willingness to study or to participate in internship programs abroad. This study aims to explore business students’ attitudes toward study abroad. The positive perceptions of students toward study or internship abroad raises questions about individual factors for business students’ outflow to study or participate in an internship abroad. This study also explores business students’ preferences for short- and long-term international study or internship abroad, as well as certification programs in international business. Moreover, it provides some insight into the segments of business students that are more likely to support these programs.

KEYWORDS:

• Student mobility
• Study abroad
• Students’ attitudes
• Business students
• Caribbean

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Arleen Hernández-Díaz

Arleen Hernández-Díaz, PhD, is a Professor of Human Resources Management at the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus. She received her doctoral degree in Industrial Relations with specialization in Collective Bargaining and Human Resources Management at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. In 2011 she earned a postdoctoral degree in Management and Marketing at Tulane University in New Orleans. During her 22-year career as a full professor at the University of Puerto Rico, she has served in a number of academic management positions—such as Director of the Department of Management, Assistant Dean of Students Affairs, Assistant Dean of Graduate Students, and Assistant Dean of Academic Affairs. Her research interest and publications are concentrated in the areas of human resources management strategies, part-time employment, and labor management relations.

Leticia M. Fernández-Morales

Leticia M. Fernández-Morales, MBA, is a Professor of Accounting at the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus. She received her master’s degree in Managerial Accounting at George Washington University. During her 31-year career as a full professor at the University of Puerto Rico, she has served in a number of academic management positions, such as Assistant Dean of Academic Affairs and Assistant Dean of Students Affairs. She is the author of the book Accounting for Leases. Her research interest and publications are concentrated in the areas of financial accounting and the importance of soft skills for accounting students.

José C. Vega-Vilca

José C. Vega-Vilca, PhD, is a Professor of Statistics at the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus. He received his doctoral degree in Computing and Information Sciences and Engineering with specialization in Computational Statistics at the University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez Campus. In 2011 he earned a postdoctoral degree in Management and Marketing at Tulane University in New Orleans. His research interest and publications are concentrated in business education as well as application of methods of supervised classification in business decision.

Mario Córdova-Claudio

Mario Córdova-Claudio, PhD, is a Professor of Operations Management, Statistics and Business Law at the University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus. He received his doctoral degree in Operations Research at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey. In 2004 he earned a Juris Doctor from the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras. He is also Certified Associate in Project Management. During his career as a professor at the University of Puerto Rico, he has served as Academic Advisor and Academic Senator. His research interest and publications are concentrated in the areas of operations research and management, queuing theory and linear programming applications, and accuracy of expert effort estimates in software projects.