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 4
4,6 4,6
4,9 4,9
3
4
5
Erasmus non Erasmus
satisfaction w ith studies
satisfaction w ith stay
recommendation to a friend
Issues of exchange
Finances
Information
Recognition
non ErasmusErasmus
4,2
4,0
3,8
3,6
3,4
3,2
3,0
social dimension of
stay
problem solv ing
dimension of stay
academic dimension
of stay
3,93,8
3,5
3,3
4,04,0
Financial issues
I did not receive any
grant
A small part of my
expenses (less than
20%)
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
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
Pro
cen
t
28,9
9,8
21,7 21
5,4
13,1
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
Other
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%
9,32%
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
6,5%
52,14%
13,29%
28,08%
No
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.’
11,2
33
25,7
30,2
I did not receive any ECTS credits
No, I worked less at the host university
No, I worked more at the host university
Yes
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:
