Challenges, pitfalls and opportunities: workplace learning during healthcare placement abroad

By investigating student’ experiences during healthcare placement in an international context, this thesis aims to give insight into the processes that facilitate and hinder workplace learning, with a focus on initiation of placement and student participation in practice. This process of orientation and adjustment at the beginning of each placement, whether based on a formal or more informal introduction to the workplace, is crucial. During initiation, the role of the student as a learner in the workplace environment will become clear, as this process helps define how, when and where the student can come to participate in patient- and team-related activities.
Different healthcare systems, professional approaches or educational context all may cause additional challenges to workplace learning in an international learning environment. Additionally, language barriers and cultural differences may impact on student’ experiences abroad, and limit active participation in practice, thus impacting on learning opportunities in the workplace and professional development.