Global perspective of higher education students: Case study of Thailand and the Czech Republic

Bc. Anna Eiflerová

Master's thesis

Abstract:

The main purpose of this study was to assess the undergraduate students from the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague (CULS) and the Kasetsart University (KU) students holistic development of a global perspective within three categories: cognitive (global awareness) intrapersonal (global perspective) and interpersonal (global engagement) and find out whether it has increased after the 1st year. The secondary purpose was to determine the Universities environment and the faculties approach in preparing their students to become responsible global citizens. The research design for this study consisted of parallel mixed methods. The quantitative data were collected by using the Global Perspective Inventory (GPI), an instrument for measuring Global Perspective. The tested sample group undergraduates from CULS (N= 88) and KU (N=227) who in 2015 enrolled in the Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences at CULS and the Faculty of Agriculture at KU completed the GPI pre-test during the first month of the first semester and the post-test in the last month of the second semester. Descriptive statistics means comparison and frequency distributions were conducted to compare the groups. Furthermore the interviews were held with university and faculty staff of both universities to explore the activities contributing to the development of Global Perspective of students. Quantitative analysis indicated positive changes in the CULS students Global Perspective. The analyses showed that the students achieved higher post-test means in each of the six domains of the GPI and on four of these the change was significant. This does not apply to students from KU. The data analyses showed a significant improvement occurred in one domain only. Moreover the students attained lower scores in the global engagement category. Qualitative analyses showed that both universities are taking steps to internationalize the faculty and furnish their students with 21st century skills most notably by increasing the number of international students and staff, offering short term as well as long term study abroad opportunities and hosting international conferences.

Keywords

Global education, Internationalisation of higher education, Global Perspective Inventory

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 26. 4. 2017

Thesis defence

• Supervisor: Ing. Petra Chaloupková, Ph.D.

Czech University of Life Sciences Prague

Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences

Master programme / field:
Tropical Agriculture / International Development and Agricultural Economics