As one of its first undertakings, LARA was instrumental in setting up the National Residence Abroad Database (NRAD).

The results of the NRAD survey and soundings across the sector identified a number of key issues which became the focus of six sub-projects: academic cultural briefing, independent language learning strategies, intercultural learning, IT skills for work-placements, learning agreements and assessment and accreditation. Details of the outcomes of these and other aspects of LARA's work can be seen on this website.

LARA has been concerned to involve students as far as is practicable in its activities. The learning and teaching materials produced by the sub-projects have been trialled by students undertaking a period abroad, and a competition was organised for students who had already completed their period abroad.

Although LARA's primary concern has been with 'mainstream' modern language degrees, it became apparent early on that residence abroad was also an issue for degrees in other disciplines with an international dimension. We therefore set up a focus-group of staff with a particular interest in residence abroad for non-specialists.

In order to optimise the opportunities for disseminating its findings and outcomes to the HE sector as a whole, LARA has teamed up with two other HEFCE-funded projects dealing with residence abroad (the Interculture Project based at Lancaster University and the Residence Abroad project based at Portsmouth University) under the banner Residence Abroad Matters (RAM).