Beyond Borders: Exploring the Life Significance of Outdoor Adventure Education Study Abroad Programmes in Wales

Research into the life significance of OAE programmes in relatively limited. Numerous calls have been made to explore beyond the confines of course outcomes, asking instead for inquiry into the processes in place within programmes that promote life enhancing learning. This study set out to explore the life significance attributed to participation in a OAE study abroad programme that immerse participants in the culture of Wales, by utilising a variety of adventurous activities, whilst incorporate educational inputs and outputs surrounding experiential learning. Utilising a two phase qualitative methodology of open ended surveys and semi structured interviews. The rich narrative data gathered was transparently analysed using reflexive thematic analysis, to generate themes of meaning that were interwoven into the data. The findings derived from these themes indicate that participation in a university study abroad programme, has contributed to participants developing self awareness and has positively changed the personal outlooks and attitudes of respondents. The exploration into the programmatic attributes of the study abroad programme suggested that participating in challenging adventurous activities, in socially dynamic groups coupled with evolving reflective practices, enhanced the significance of the experience. Enabling participants of the programme to go beyond the borders of their preconceived ideas of their personal limits and carry these realisations into the next phases of their lives. It is hoped that the findings of this study will simultaneously contribute to the praxis of OAE practitioners and to the emerging research field exploring the significant life experiences of OAE programmes.

Name dc:type.qualificationname

ma

Level dc:type.qualificationlevel

masters

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

University of Wales Trinity Saint David

Year dc:date.issued

2024

Author dc:creator

• Haylock, Jonathan

• LB Theori ac arfer addysg

Dc Identifier Grantnumber

UWTSD

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:repository.uwtsd.ac.uk:3098