Mediated Cross-Cultural Learning through Exchange in Higher Agricultural Education

Abstract

This article reports on the long-term impact of an intensive European Union–Australia student exchange programme that took place in 2004 and 2005. The programme, Learning through Exchange about Agriculture, Food Systems and Environment (LEAFSE), was designed to facilitate exchange of post-graduate students on a pilot scale between four institutions in EU countries and four in Australia. Under this programme master's level students in the fields of agriculture, food systems and environment had the opportunity to study abroad. Students from EU studied for a semester at a partner university in Australia, and students from Australia studied for a semester at a partner university in EU. The research shows that LEAFSE appears to have been successful in creating a community of learners and a learning environment that combined resulted in a significant life experience that positively contributed to students' personal and professional development. An important component of both seems to be their enhanced cross-cultural competence in that they are better able to understand and appreciate differences.

Keywords:

• Students exchange
• International education
• Agriculture
• Food systems
• Environment
• Organic farming
• Learning community

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge the European Union and the Australian Department of Education Science and Training (DEST) for their financial support. We also wish to recognize our fellow LEAFSE staff members: Vibeke Langer; Michael Christie; Peter von Fragstein und Niemsdorff; Robert C Mulley; Qaiyum Parvez; Heiko Daniel; Acram Taji; Paul Kristiansen; Lynette Abbott; Victor Galea and Richard Williams; and the 72 students who jointly created an international community of learners. Susanne Leth, Sofie Kobayashi and Hanne Olsen provided excellent coordination of the project at different times at the Danish end, Anne Leick Jepsen designed and conducted the online evaluation at the end of each exchange year, and, finally, Ramona Laurent Zen, for assisting with the data analysis. We thank them all. We also would like to thank the eight universities involved, who gave us the space to embark on this experiment: The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Denmark; University of Wales, Aberystwyth, United Kingdom; Wageningen University and Research Centre, The Netherlands; University of Kassel, Witzenhausen, Germany; University of Western Sydney, New South Wales; University of New England, New South Wales; University of Western Australia, Western Australia; and University of Queensland, Queensland.