ABSTRACT
This chapter provides a deeper analysis of the significance of a motivation of career advancement and related motivations such as 'skills development' from the perspectives of the Canadian participants in learning/volunteering abroad (LVA) programmes and host country staff. It examines motivations that are important to consider in the context of other rationales in the context of international development more broadly and in relation to the host country perspectives of skills learned more specifically. The chapter begins with a discussion of building skills as part of the LVA4D programme, as this was one of the most frequently noted benefits identified by host country staff and volunteers alike. Interview respondents from Canada and the host countries agreed that participation in LVA programmes facilitated skills development for both the international volunteers and the host community staff. Throughout the interviews, participants referred to testing a career choice or academic background in several interview responses.
