The Impact of Short-Term Leadership Study Abroad on Student Leadership Competencies

Short-term study abroad programs have become increasingly popular in US higher education, as they offer powerful development opportunities for undergraduate students. This mixed methods study examined the impact of three faculty-led short-term summer study abroad courses in a leadership studies curriculum. Through the lens of Seemiller's student leadership competencies, survey data from six student cohorts revealed growth in key competency clusters, particularly personal behavior, self-awareness and development, civic responsibility, and learning and reasoning. Short-term study abroad helped students develop leadership skills such as functioning independently, responding to ambiguity, emotional intelligence, and social responsibility. These leadership competencies help augment students' college experiences, as well as provide them with enhanced career readiness. These findings support the integration of study abroad into leadership development curricula and suggest the use of competency-based frameworks for intentional program design.