Introduction

1. Motivation on Overseas Field Studies : A look into The Heart of Gold Project Introduction This research project adduces evidence from biographical inteviews conducted on the motivations of current and past students to participate in an overseas volunteer/field study project with a emphasis on the Vancouver Island University Heart of Gold Project in Costa Rica. The motivation of people to participate in overseas volunteer/field study projects has long fascinated those researching and working alongside the participants. What actually motivates these persons to participate is a complex and vexing question (Esmond, 1997), yet understanding these motivations is suggested to many researches to be one one of the great assistance to the directors of projects in their recruitment, selection and placement of volunteers and participants (Clary et al, 2001). Results & Conclusion This research through qualitative research provided valuable information about the actual motivations and their importance to the participants. The respondents highlighted the importance of being adapted into a different new culture as a main motivation. A common theme that arose out of the interviews was that participants were drawn to the project by other students who have participated prior and have presented on their experiences. Few participants expressed what might be regarded as purely “altruistic” reasons, though most respondents were conscious of the fact that their participation was “giving something back to the community”. The analysis revealed that employability, resume building, and obtaining skills were important to respondents and these findings augment existing analysis that identifies peoples motivations a mixture of egoistical and instrumental drivers (Hustinx, 2001; Rehberg, 2005). Methodology This qualitative data are taken from a project carried out in 2012 that collected 9 in-depth biographies of current and past students at Vancouver Island University. The criterion for taking part in the interviews was that respondents had either taken part in the Heart of Gold Project in Costa Rica or will be taken part in the near future. Five of the interviewes were students who had previously been on the project, three were participating that year and one interviewee was the director of the project. The advantage of this technique is that it provides a perspective of why participants have or are participating in this project in their own terms.