FINDINGS
A key consideration in choosing short-term education mobility programmes (STEMPs) destination for our research participants is the touristic opportunities the destination affords, or is perceived to afford. Students in our study acknowledged that they were attracted to STEMP destinations that gave them the most opportunities to travel to countries (often in the west) that would be otherwise difficult to visit.
TOURISM OPPORTUNITIES
I don't really consider the educational value of the universities [when going for STEMPs]... because I just want to travel…
-- Yvonne, NTU, Year 3, BA.
[Students] just want to travel [and] experience a completely different life. ...it makes a lot of sense to go somewhere far.
--Chase, NTU, Year 3, BA.
FULL QUOTES
…maybe there could be like a joint university program where you could you know do your exchange at two ASEAN unis, instead of one. I don't know about the logistics…but I'm just thinking because for Europe and whatnot, the main reason why students choose that is because we can travel easily [between countries] and maybe if you could apply that logic to the ASEAN exchange programs where you let them experience more than one country maybe that could help level it up a little….
--Anna, NTU, Year 3, BA.
…the fact that the ministry gives you a sum that is packed to where you're going…the fact that it's paid for you means that I think the calculation shifts. Because if you don't go to Europe, then what are you doing? Right? You're wasting your time. I mean, you can travel to Thailand right now without a ministry grant. I think it's very expensive [if] you want to go to Barcelona on [your] own dime.
--Arthur, NTU, Year 3, BA.
...if you compare the level of fun in travelling [between Southeast Asia and Europe]…really, Europe is just more fun. I think the importance of Southeast Asia as a strong economical place is beneficial for your career.... Me personally…if I know that having experience in the Thailand market or the Indonesian market would help in my career, I would definitely go... [but going on] exchange it's just different in people's mindset; for us, exchange is for fun, it's not about my career. But an internship [in Asia], maybe, yes.
--Caitlin, SMU, Year 4, BBM.
...students want to really ‘live the region’. They just want to travel all around Europe or all around America and then experience a completely different life. Going on exchange…is a long term thing....[and] it gives you the opportunity to travel to other [areas], like the most easiest example is you go to Europe, then you go to every country in Europe... I think it makes a lot of sense to go somewhere far ...let's say you go to Malaysia, the opportunity cost is just very, very high, you will miss out on going to all the other European countries.
--Chase, NTU, Year 3, BA.
…the proximity is too close… you can actually travel to Asian countries anytime. So…I feel like most students the mindset is that I can travel [within] Asia anytime. But this time, I want to experience something further. Take this time to go to somewhere further. So it makes the Asian region less appealing to them.
--Gloria, SMU, Year 3, BBM.
I never heard of anyone going to Vietnam to study. Like, Thailand, yes, have is have. But usually, it's also for the short term, not for long. Or like internships. Usually more related to work, rather than studies. China also. Actually now that I think of it, like if you ask me about work opportunities, I'm definitely considering Southeast Asia.
--Pamela, NTU, Year 3, BA.
I don't really consider the educational value of the universities [when going for STEMPs]... I am very concerned with the travel aspect of it...because I just want to travel… Vietnam is a country that I have heard a lot of, and actually I've seen a lot of people travel there…and I'm pretty interested in what it has to offer tourism-wise… [For] Thailand…because I've been there, it's not so appealing anymore… [But] Myanmar, I feel I've never heard anything about Myanmar before…and because of that, it is less appealing...
--Yvonne, NTU, Year 3, BA.
MAKE YOUR VOICES HEARD