COUNCIL OF EUROPE

transcript

www.esn.orgvicepresident@esn.org

COUNCIL OF EUROPEDirectorate of School, Out-Of-School And Higher Education, Higher Education and

Research Divisionand

PEOPLES’ FRIENDSHIP UNIVERSITY OF RUSSIA

INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR

MAKING THE EUROPEAN HIGHER EDUCATION AREA A REALITY: THE ROLE OF STUDENTS

International Student Experience: Mobility

Ewa Krzaklewska

Vice President

Erasmus Student Network

Content

The impact of the mobility

The issues in the mobility schemes

Students’ role in fostering mobility

Data on quality of exchange

ESNSurvey

– in 2005, 8000 students evaluated their exchange

– in 2006, 12,500 students responded to questionnaire on exchange students’ rights

(done in partnership with Universita’ Bocconi)

More information at www.esn.org/survey

International experience

Wide range of experiences:

- international students (full degree)

- specialised degree MA

- exchange students (Erasmus,Tempus, CEEPUS, bilateral)

- Internship, work

- short term experience

Impact on students+

1. Culturally competent

2. Multilingual (2,1 => 3,6)

3. Mobile (78% would move)

4. More mature and indipendent

5. Created social network abroad.

Different experiences...

My time in Edinburgh was an unforgettable experience, full of challenges and adventures, but also time of measuring my capabilities and time of meeting other cultures. Kasia, Polish (Scotland)

I think one thing that I appreciated most was getting to meet lots of people from different cultures. Just on my floor there were students from South Africa, Tanzania, Japan, Netherlands, Australia and France. It was great interacting with them all.

Jim, English (Sweden)

I had time not only to learn about my academic discipline from the other perspective (new experiences, new technologies), but also learn language. Michal, Polish (Germany)

Impact on students+

Best experience in life

4,6 4,6

4,9 4,9

Erasmus non Erasmus

satisfaction w ith studies

satisfaction w ith stay

recommendation to a friend

Issues of exchange

Finances

Information

Recognition

non ErasmusErasmus

social dimension of

problem solv ing

dimension of stay

academic dimension

of stay

3,93,8

4,04,0

Financial issues

I did not receive any

A small part of my

expenses (less than

Around a quarter of my

expenses (20-40%)

Around half of my

expenses (40-60%)

Most of my expenses (60-80%)

Almost all of my expenses

(more than 80%)

Expences Covered by Grant

21,7 21

Expences Covered by Grant

Satisfaction with financial situation is 2,97

(on the 1-5 scale).

Sources of income

0 20 40 60 80

Working

From my savings

With a support of my parents

I took a loan

percent

Access to mobility

Privilaged group of students have access to mobility

International students do not have right to exchange programmes

30,22%

60,46%

Above my country average

Average

Below my country average

Family's income

Information provision

Limited access to information

Information hard to find

Information only in local language

Unclear rules

Satisfaction with information prior to stay abroad equals 3,05 (on 1-5 scale).

Recognition

28% lost a semester at home university

52,14%

13,29%

28,08%

Yes, all of them

Yes, but only few of them

Yes, most of them

Recognition

Comparable curricula

‘I got a B for my all semester in Estonia and they recalculated my semester abroad and put me an E. Saying that you can not compare our school to the university in Estonia.’

I did not receive any ECTS credits

No, I worked less at the host university

No, I worked more at the host university

Amount of work Host and Home

Other issuesPracticalities e.g. accomodation

Inadequate structures (eg. library systems)

Visa obstacles

Language

No equal rights for local and foreign students

International ghetto

Lack of representation

Role of studentsStudents as agents of changeQuestioning status quo and demanding solutionsCreating partnershipsDemanding recognition, also for non-formal educationShowing issues before not viewed as important => changing structures

Erasmus Student NetworkInternational non-profit student organisation

Founded in 1990

On 230 HEI in 29 countries

Mission: to foster student mobility in Higher Education under the principle of Students Helping Students

Students-helping-studentsDuring the exchange– buddy-programme

– language exchange

– orientation week

– trips, sports, parties

– help-desk/office hours

– representation of needs

Students-helping-studentsBefore exchange– motivating– relevant information– improving language skills – internationalization at home

After exchange

– re-integration

– sharing experiences

Fostering mobility

Practical support for incoming students

Integration with local community

Representation on issues

Motivating and informing local students

Volunteers more often considers exchange

Internationalization at home

Why students doing it?Students as more trustworthy helpersTaking responsability for their own institution and student European communityNon-formal learning experience for local students„Paying off”already received help Always with students

Support for university

Helping the IRO

Increasing satisfaction with stay of foreign students

Enhancing image of institution

Connecting institution to wider European network

Evaluating exchange

Conclusions

Mobility experience has a great impact on students

Main mobility issues are financial problems, limited access to exchange, lack of information and lack of recognition

Practical issues can be solved within students-helping-students scheme

SuggestionsUniversities should encourage creation of local students groups supporting mobility (like ESN)This group shoud take care of practicalities of exchange but also represent exchange students towards universityStudent unions’ should consider exchange and international students in their policiesLocal group should provide evaluation on exchange to universities

SuggestionsTo help in financial obstacles:

Amount of grant should be reconsidered

Accomodation

Getting the same rights as local students- discounts for meals, local transport

Lower costs of visa and permits, and issue in time

Help in job search, or employ by university

Suggestions

To provide better information:

Local students groups (such as ESN) should provide peer to peer counselling

Buddy system could be introduced to foreign guests

Ex-exchange students should be asked for help

Thank you

More more data on exchange students see:

www.esn.org/survey

With questions:

vicepresident@esn.org

COUNCIL OF EUROPE

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