CHALLENGES AND BENEFITS OF STUDENT EXCHANGE PROGRAMS FOR HIGHER EDUCATION STUDENTS IN THE HEALTH FIELD

Abstract

This article sought to analyze how internationalization is growing in institutions of higher education, driven by practices such as academic mobility, online classes, lectures, and collaborative research. The objective of this study is to analyze the contribution of international exchange programs to the academic training of health sciences students. Through a systematic literature review, 9 articles that met the inclusion criteria were selected. The methodology involved searching for and analyzing articles in databases such as BVS, PubMed, and Google Scholar, using search terms such as “international educational exchange” and “health sciences students.” The results showed that exchange programs enrich holistic education, foster autonomy, critical-reflective thinking, and social responsibility, in addition to driving technical and scientific innovation and enhancing interpersonal skills. In conclusion, student exchange is a transformative experience that empowers and humanizes future health professionals. Therefore, it is essential that institutions of higher education value and support this practice as a key strategy for enhancing academic and professional training.