Determining global citizenship capabilities for speech-language pathologists and other health professionals: a study protocol

Background: Global citizenship (GC) capabilities are increasingly recognised as important aspects of professional competence for health professionals. Defining GC capabilities however, is a complex process, as is assessing such capabilities and determining whether intercultural overseas learning experiences enhance GC capabilities.

Aim: This paper presents a planned protocol for exploratory research aimed to investigate GC capabilities and overseas mobility experiences.

Method: This protocol presents an empirical four phase mixed method study, involving: (i) a scoping review of the literature relating to global citizenship and a working GC definition, (ii) a pre-mobility participant experience survey administered to tertiary students prior to an overseas mobility programme, (iii) a post-mobility participant experience survey, and finally (iv) the conduct of post-mobility focus groups after students have completed an overseas work-integrated learning experience.

Results/Conclusion: It is intended that the quantitative and qualitative results and analysis from each phase of the study will contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the development and measurement of GC capabilities for Speech-Language Pathologists and potentially for other health professionals.