Exploring students’ national identity through short-term study abroad programs: A postcolonial Hong Kong perspective

The purpose of this presentation is to better understand students’ (re)construction of their national identity through short-term study abroad programmes. Using case study approach, a group of Hong Kong students from the eight government-funded higher education institutions completed a questionnaire, and individual interviews were conducted for a small group of students. Results show that Hong Kong students’ perceptions of national identity is multiple and complicated. The influences of study abroad experiences on national identity varied which were dependent on the students’ interaction with the local and non-local people, reflection on their own identity culturally or politically. The findings of this study provide feedback for the educators and administrators to enhance profound short-term study abroad experience for students. Copyright © 2017 Annual Conference of the American Education Research Association.