Dr. Bierlein Palmer Presents at Conference

March 30, 2016

Dr. Louann Bierlein Palmer co-presented with Dr. Timothy Palmer at the International Journal of Arts and Sciences Conference in Malta, on Monday, March 7, 2016 (as part of a four-day conference). Their presentation was titled "The India Gateway Program: An Interdisciplinary Study Abroad Experience." 

Their presentation focused on data collected one year following an interdisciplinary study abroad trip to India, which involved U.S. business and Australian human services students. Previous research on short-term study abroad trips reveal positive student perceptions of the experience immediately following the trip, but fairly limited longer term impact. Their data, which was collected one year after the experience, captured information on the extent to which students were thinking and/or acting differently as a result of their study abroad experience, and to what extent they believed it was due to the interdisciplinary nature of the trip. 

The conference involved presenters from all around the globe, covering a number of arts and sciences topics. In addition, Dr. Bierlein Palmer participated in two days of international education, involving travel around the country of Malta, learning about the culture and history of that country. She also spent time with higher education faculty from Malta, gaining a greater understanding of Malta’s K-12 and higher education systems in that country.