Intercultural change through mobility: How study abroad in the Indo-Pacific reshapes Australian students’ perceptions of international students

Study abroad has gained significant momentum over the past two decades, widely recognised for its benefits to students, universities, and both home and host countries. However, most existing research focuses on individual student development, with limited attention to the broader relational impacts, particularly on domestic study-abroad students' perceptions of international peers. This study addresses that gap by examining how Australian students' attitudes toward international students shift following study-abroad experiences in the Indo-Pacific under the New Colombo Plan (NCP). Semi-structured interviews with 79 undergraduate Australian students were analysed using thematic analysis guided by positioning theory and the human agency framework. Findings reveal three key areas of change: increased empathy and recognition of privilege; shifts in perceptions leading to a newfound respect for international students; and behavioural transformations that encourage engagement with international students and in social change. Students reported moving from unexamined privilege to critically reflecting on their cultural positioning, particularly whiteness, and from personal empathy to social empathy. These attitudinal shifts emerged through an ongoing, relational process shaped by interactions in both host and home contexts. However, such transformations are not automatic; guided reflection and structured re-entry support are essential to sustaining meaningful change. This study contributes to the literature by elucidating how outbound mobility could act as a catalyst for reciprocal internationalisation and highlighting the potential of returned students to serve as cultural bridges within increasingly diverse educational settings.