According to the independent global study carried out by Dr. Mitchell R. Hammer of Hammer Consulting, LLC under AFS’s commission in 2002, participants in the One-year Intercultural Exchange Program have shown noticeable improvements in their personal development and learning:

● Being mature and more skillful
● Establishing interpersonal relationships, personal values and ethical standards
● Being aware of and alert to cross-cultural issues
● Possessing an international perspective
● Cultivating adaptability and tolerance

A total of 2,100 students from nine countries and regions took part in this three-year academic study, which demonstrates that intercultural exchange programs play a vital role in bridging the differences of various world cultures.

The education sector may refer to the experience of AFS intercultural exchange programs in helping students to broaden their horizons.