The Impact of Studying Abroad on the Three Pillars of Higher Education at Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia: Challenges and Breakthroughs

This study takes education, research, and community service—collectively known as the three pillars of higher education—as its point of departure in analyzing the impact of study abroad on academic staff at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM). Applying a mixed method approach through a quantitative survey and qualitative interviews, this study reports on and assesses how studying abroad impacts the trajectory and performance of education, research, and community service at UGM. In 2020 and 2021, quantitative data were collected from 833 respondents using two survey instruments; qualitative data were also collected through interviews with 22 academic staff. The study found that faculty members’ study abroad experiences positively impacted their diverse teaching, research, and community service-related activities in a variety of ways after returning to UGM. This study also shows that the network of faculty members who studied abroad plays a significant role in the process of promoting internationalization, which is no longer treated as a goal but as a means of raising the level of education and research.