Evaluating a Global Leaders scheme for widening participation students

The University of Exeter's Global Leaders Experience programme provides opportunities for students to gain intercultural experiences to enhance their employability, with priority given to those from a widening participation background

This report, funded by the Jisc research grant, considers the scheme's impact and finds evidence that it improves participants' confidence and influences their career aspirations as well as giving them an international perspective. The research also acts as a case study of contribution analysis as an evaluation method for employability interventions.

Key findings

• Responses indicated that one of the main attractions of the Global Leaders Experience programme (GLE) was the opportunity to travel abroad to undertake new and exciting experiences.
• Participants suggested that the GLE enhanced their cultural awareness and international perspective, equipping them with unique insights from direct encounters in diverse cultural settings.
• There was widespread agreement that the GLE increased participants' confidence.
• A couple of respondents noted in the focus groups how the GLE had increased their personal confidence by practicing and learning new life skills and experience.
• Data from the pre and post GLE evaluation survey show that, in general, participants report increases in skills of self-awareness, adaptability and communication.
• Others expressed the view that GLE provided a platform and opportunity to practice and apply skills, such as communication, organisation and leadership, however they did not necessarily see GLE as a way to improve skills due to the short duration.
• The GLE seemed to influence long term career goals and aspirations in two ways, by (a) increasing the awareness of international careers and (b) providing insight and experience of new types of jobs.
• Some further feedback found that the experience encouraged them to think more seriously about their future.
• Respondents were clear that the GLE had helped them in their careers by providing lots of anecdotes to use in applications and interviews reporting that Employers seem very keen to talk about the GLE experience.   

About the report

This evaluation aims to provide insight into the efficacy of outbound mobility programmes to support the progression of students from widening participation backgrounds. It shines a light on the contribution of global leaders to influence:

• Student career preparedness/employability
• Employment outcomes.

It provides an applied case study of contribution analysis as an evaluation method for employability interventions, which may be of interest to other providers who seek to evaluate similar interventions where the intervention to outcomes relationships is complex, where there are small numbers of participants, and where it is not practicable to form a comparison group.

This research was funded by the Jisc careers research grant. If you're a careers professional planning to undertake research, you may be eligible for funding of up to £5,000.