REPORT ON ROTARY POST-EXCHANGE STUDENTS SURVEY 2013

This is a global report, an overall picture – of much higher importance for districts is the REPORT with detailed information of THEIR OWN DISTRICT!

Part 1: “DETAILS” – A Short Summary

This GLOBAL SURVEY is based on 1148 Long-Term Students’ answers (from an annual total of 6000) – a high sample compared with opinion polls in general!

STUDENTS HOSTED by 232 districts (from a total of some 500) in 44 countries (from 80 involved in YE)

RATING of all Students in the following main fields:

 

Numeric answers are calculated as PERCENTAGE of COMPLETE SATISFACTION/ CONTENTMENT of students:

100%	means “maximum satisfaction”
0%	indicates “no positive rating”
60%	or higher could be considered “good”

 

A	“Exchange value to the Student”	75%	(very good rating!)
B	“Club Support”	45%	(low rating)
C	“Host Family Support”	65%	(good rating)
D	“School Experience”	41%	(very low rating!)

Reasons for problems and LOW RATINGS BY STUDENTS:

B “HOST CLUB SUPPORT”:    average: 45% satisfaction (low rating by students)

Main reasons are answers of reduced contentment with following questions:
“I was included in Club activities”, “…sufficient support by Counselor & YEO to help me adapt”, “…regular contacts with Rotarians”, “My relationship with my Counselor was good”.
Two thirds of students met their Counselor only once per month.

D  “SCHOOL EXPERIENCE”:   average: 41% positive answers(very low rating)

one of the main reasons was little knowledge of the Host Language

We look at another issue: Students who considered to RETURN HOME EARLY, for various reasons:

EARLY RETURNS:23%  of all students “considered an Early Return” (one in four)
The following questions have been put to those who considered an Early Return:

WHERE AND HOW DID THE PROBLEMS ORIGINATE?

Main reason: “Host Family”

WHO HELPED YOU TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM?

“People back home”, “Talk with other Inbounds”, “My Host Family”

WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN MOST HELPFUL … ?

“Talk with other Exchange Students”, “Get a new Host Family”

Part 2: “CONCLUSIONS”

CLUB SUPPORT:

Students report INSUFFICIENT CARE/SUPPORT

The role of Club and Counselor should include monitoring the students’ progress in school as well as their wellbeing in their host families. Particularly and more intensely during the early period of their exchange. Students who encounter problems turn on average first of all to their real parents back home, to other Inbounds and host before turning to their Rotary Club and Counselor.

EARLY RETURNS (ER)

23% of all students considered an ER during their year.
A rather high %-age. 5% returned early voluntarily, 3% were sent home

HOST PARENTS (HP)

They get a high average rating by their students, 80% appear to be very good.
However, from a quarter of the students (those who considered an ER), half of them claim: “Problems with Host Parents”.This means that some 10-15% of HPs, or more, appear not to be fit for hosting.

SCHOOL EXPERIENCE

The average rating by students is low with 41%
Comparing different districts: Students with a good command of the host language perform also very well in general, the others do not.
Sponsor Districts and Clubs need to get their Outbounds to get familiar with the Host Language prior to the exchange.Host Districts and Clubs need to support their Inbounds the same way.

This survey has been finalized in cooperation with the Institute for Retailing and Marketing at the VIENNA UNIVERSITY OF ECONOMICS AND BUSINESS.
The extensive sampling and the significance of the report has been emphasized.

E. Zeller, Oct. 29, 2013

Final Summary of 2013 LT-Exchange students’ Survey

Global survey based on 1148 Students’ answers (from 6000 p.a.) This sample size of students, compared with total number of students p.a. is significantly higher than public opinion polls in general.

• Hosted by 232 districts (from some 500)
• In 44 countries (from 80 involved in YE)

Surveys for individual districts should provide quantifiable information on the quality of exchange conditions for YE-Chairs and their teams.

GROSS AVERAGE RESULTS of all Students, comparing “Value to the Student”, “Club Support”, “Host Family Support”, “School Experience” with an average appraisal of 57% (weighted average).

 

Answers are calculated as % of max. possible appraisal/contentment of students: 100% is “full agreement to question asked”, 0% indicates “no positive agreement”

Above average are rated: “Value to Student”: 75%, “Host family Support”: 65%
(I would consider a rating of 60% or higher as an acceptable one)

Below average are rated:

“HOST CLUB SUPPORT”:    45% avg. positive rating (weighted)

“…assistance in improving my language skills”	33%
“I was included in Club activities”	31%
“…sufficient support by Counselor & YEO to help me adapt”	35%
“…regular contacts with Rotarians”	39%
“My relationship with my Counselor was good” furthermore	42%
“My host parents did not HAVE to host me, they WANTED to”	47%

“MEETING COUNSELOR per month”

63% of all students met their Counselor only once p.m. or less.

“SCHOOL EXPERIENCE”:   41% avg. positive rating (weighted)

“My initial ability to understand the language … was good”	24%
“I participated in extra school activities”	32%
“It was easy to make friends”	29%

EARLY RETURNS

23%  of all students “Considered an Early Return”
The following questions have been put to those 23% who considered an Early Return:

WHERE AND HOW DID THE PROBLEMS ORIGINATE?

“Host Family”	52% (by far biggest source !)
“Home Sickness”	32%
“Host School”	30%

as an indication of honest reporting one could consider entries like:

“Problems adapting to new environment”	20%
“My own attitude”	21%

WHO HELPED YOU TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM?

“People back home”	48%
“Talk with other Inbounds”	48%
“Host Family”	43% (only then helped Rotary)
“Club Counselor”	21% !
“Rotary Club”	17% !

WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN MOST HELPFUL … ?

“Talk with other Exchange Students”	49%
“Get a new Host Family”	38%
“Talk with my Counselor”	26% (… third choice!)