Developing Allied Health (AH) graduates who are skilled in responding to public health needs is crucial, particularly in rural areas where workforce shortages and poor health outcomes are common. However, workforce shortages make it difficult to provide rural work-integrated learning (WIL) opportunities to teach these skills. This paper presents a…

This study investigated pre-occupational therapy students' descriptions of dissonance during a two-week service-learning immersion program in Guatemala. Thirty-one students participated in student-led group reflections during two program iterations. Qualitative analysis of transcripts yielded three themes: context, experience, and outcome. The…

International service-learning provides valuable cultural and clinical experiences to healthcare students. Little is published on best practices regarding the design of international service-learning for maximum learning on this group. This study utilized a mixed methods approach to gather occupational therapy students' perceptions of the pre-trip…

University students, working with First Nations communities, need to build skills in culturally responsive practice. This study explores the experience of allied health students completing service-learning placements in First Nations communities. A qualitative post-placement study was undertaken. Semi-structured interviews were completed with…

Traditionally, evaluation of global service-learning (SL) programs has been highly focused on student outcomes, rather than community impact. Less documentation exists regarding the impact of SL on the partnerships between the community and higher education. The purposes of this case study are to present the concept of Fair Trade Learning (FTL) as…

Service learning may offer an innovative perspective in the competing global and national health interests among Philippine universities. The author sought to understand the enablers and barriers of implementing service learning in the context of a premier private Catholic Philippine allied health profession education. Using an in-depth…

High-impact practices (HIPs) in higher education, such as global community engagement programs, enhance student learning and lead to increased levels of civic involvement among graduates. However, it is unknown if participation in a global community engagement/service-learning program affects the development of cultural competence. The purpose of…

A partnership between a regional Australian university and the Friendship Village in Vietnam was established in 2016 as part of a health promotion unit of study. The aim of this project was to evaluate the sustainability of the international service learning model of health promotion, and its impacts upon the students and the Friendship Village.…

Rural health work-integrated learning exposes students to the unique features of rural professional practice and provides opportunities to improve students' work-readiness. Service learning placements delivered in rural settings seek to address the dual goals of student learning and meeting community identified needs. This research aimed to…

There is a paucity of occupational therapy literature related to the professional development process that occurs when students participate in immersive, international servant leadership experiences in developing countries. A scarcity of literature exists on how such culturally rich experiences can influence the development of the participating…

Faced with broad scale cancellation of allied health student placements due to COVID-19, placement coordinators at The University of Melbourne Department of Rural Health established remote, online work-integrated learning placements across a range of settings, including a primary school, specialist school, kindergarten association and a…

The purpose of this study was to establish a shared vision between the academic program and the international service-learning partner. Through the use of photovoice (Collier & Collier, 1986), we conducted a needs assessment to determine the partner's priorities. Analysis of interview transcripts and photos yielded themes representing the…

Context: Study abroad programs are a key educational opportunity for athletic training students to grow in cultural competence. Yet, there are few faculty-led, study abroad programs specifically designed for athletic training community engagement in low-income nations. Objective: To describe the process of developing and implementing a short-term…

International service-learning (ISL) programs in physical and occupational therapy programs are increasing in number. This paper describes a needs assessment and initial program evaluation conducted for a physical therapy ISL program at an orphanage in China. Chinese orphanage staff and Widener University physical therapy students were surveyed.…

This paper explores the impact of a student learning activity involving service learning. As part of a vocational course in the Academy of Health Sciences at a Western Australian TAFE (Technical and Further Education) institute, Allied Health Assistant (AHA) students participated in a service learning program focused on work-based learning in…