Factors Affecting Business Students’ Willingness to Study Abroad:Evidence from the Caribbean

ABSTRACT The Caribbean has one of the lowest rates of student participation in study abroad programs. This comparative study aims to contribute to the research on business students’ attitudes toward studying abroad, specifically for students in public institutions in the Caribbean. The research shows that positive perceptions of students toward studying or internships do not necessarily depend on demographic or personal characteristics. A study conducted among business students from main campuses at the University of Puerto Rico (UPRRP) and the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo (UASD) shows that desire to live abroad, benefits from study/internship abroad, and self-confidence are determinant factors to participate in study/internship programs abroad. Even though each group of participants has its own set of peculiarities, the results are consistent with the findings from other studies.