Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Abstract

This article presents the evaluation of a staff exchange program between a US and a German non-profit social service agency. The program’s 12-year history, challenges, and successes are presented. Focus group and in-depth interview findings include the following: (1) support from leadership and staff impacts sustainability, (2) development of collaboration principles is key for continued partnership, (3) financial input seems small when compared to outcomes, (4) traveling abroad and hosting fosters positive learning experiences, (5) agencies learned to better position themselves and increased their retention, and (6) themes among staff include observing, reflecting, and learning from each other. Suggestions for replication are made.

Keywords

Collaborative learning focus groups global learning international partnership international staff exchange

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Braun

Clarke

(2006) ‘Using Thematic Analysis in Psychology’, Qualitative Research in Psychology 3(2): 77–101.

Creswell

J.W.

(2013) Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE.

Gilbert

(1993) Researching Social Life. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE.

Glaser

(1992) Basics of Grounded Theory Analysis. Mill Valley, CA: Sociology Press.

Halcomb

Davidson

P.M.

(2006) ‘Is Verbatim Transcription of Interview Data Always Necessary?’ Applied Nursing Research 19(1): 38–42.

Healy

L.M.

(2008) International Social Work: Professional Action in an Interdependent World, 2nd edn. New York: Oxford University Press.

Jebb

(1929) ‘International Social Service’, in Proceedings of First International Conference of Social Work, Paris, pp. 637–55.

Krueger

Casey

(2015) Focus Groups: A Practical Guide for Applied Research, 5th edn. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE.

Kruse

(2015) Internationaler Austausch in der Sozialen Arbeit. Wiesbaden: Springer.

10.

Lincoln

Y.S.

Guba

E.G.

(1985) Naturalistic Inquiry. Newbury Park, CA: SAGE.

11.

McKay

Gopalan

Franco

. (2010) ‘It Takes a Village to Create, Deliver, and Test Child and Family-focused Prevention Programs and Mental Health Services’, Research on Social Work Practice 20(5): 476–82.

12.

Mericourt

(2001) ‘Unequal but Mutually Beneficial Partnerships in Social Development: A Case Example’, Social Development Issues 23(1): 43–9.

13.

Morgan

D.L.

(1998) The Focus Group Guidebook. Newbury Park, CA: SAGE.

14.

Parker

Ali

Ringell

McKay

(2014) ‘Bi-directional Exchange: The Cornerstone of Globally Focused Social Work’, Global Social Welfare 1(1): 1–8.

15.

Reilly

(2001) ‘Collaboration in Action: An Uncertain Process’, Administration in Social Work 25(1): 53–74.

16.

Seidman

(2013) Interviewing as Qualitative Research: A Guide for Researchers in Education and the Social Sciences, 4th edn. New York: Teachers College Press.

International staff exchange: Evaluation of a collaborative learning partnership

Abstract

Keywords

Get full access to this article

References