Host Community Impact: From harm-minimization to positive impact

Mobile students impact host communities in many ways (e.g. economic, political, educational, cultural), especially when there is a wide disparity of income between the visitors and those visited. Not all impacts are easily identified as positive or negative, and many may be ambiguous or contested. The concepts of reciprocity and mutuality derived from the international development field are helpful in improving outcomes and ensuring benefit for all partners in an international engagement. Outsiders can never truly understand the needs of host communities; therefore, choosing local partners wisely and working with them closely is key to success.