ABSTRACT
This chapter introduces readers to the volume by situating study abroad in the context of globalization and the current political and societal climate. In recent years, the number of study abroad participants has been steadily on the rise throughout the world. With the growth of student mobility, study abroad as an enterprise has also become more complex and multifaceted. In particular, changing and diverse goals and impacts of study abroad for the participating students as well as the accepting society have been discussed in the previous literature. By pointing out some of the common values embraced in this complex and multidimensional enterprise, such as the importance of social connections and interpersonal communication, I explain how those values are related to the objectives of this research. I also present the overall organization of the volume.
