Tania BermanPresident Erasmus Student Network
What is ESN?
One of the biggest non-profit interdisciplinary student’s organisations in EuropeFounded in 1989 • With the return of the 1st Erasmus
studentsAim: support and develop student exchanges and provide an intercultural experience • also to those students who cannot access
a period abroad ('internationalisation at home').
Principle: “Students helping students”
2
International projects
What is PRIME?
Problems of Recognition In Making ErasmusEuropean-wide research projectConducted by ESN with the support of the European Commission and with a partnership of Vilnius University
Two editions: • 1st in 2009• Follow-up in 2010
Objectives
Draw attention of the stakeholders and parties involved in the process of recognition to ever-lasting problems and obstaclesMap and monitor good practicesProvide solutions and recommendationsImprove the quality of exchange and increase the numbers
Fields of the research
Most common practices in Europe regarding:• Information provision about Erasmus and other
exchanges• ECTS• Course credit calculation• Usage of the ECTS at European universities
• Learning Agreement (LA)• Negotiation and signing
• Recognition• Validity of the LA, involved parties, common
problems• Grade transfer• Erasmus and additional grants, tuition fees
PRIME 2009
Recognitionand exams upon return
Nothing; 4%
Partly;
30%Full; 66%
Full Partial No recognition
None 0.43 0.12 0.01
Some courses 0.18 0.14 0.00400000000000001
All courses 0.054 0.03 0.025
5%
15%
25%
35%
45%
55%
65%
PRIME 2009
PRIME 2010
Research
Both qualitative and quantitativeThree-level research:• New: In-depth interview with National Agencies• Online questionnaire for Higher Education
Institutions• Online questionnaire for Students
From February until the end of April16 interviews with National Agencies500 responses from Higher Education Institutions (500% more than in 2009)9000 responses from students (375% more than in 2009)
Information provision26% of students never receive information on exchange students recognition rights
Information provision to students
Exchange students recognition rights
Grade transfer
ECTS/credit system at the host and home university
Learning agreement
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
49.9%
41.1%
75.7%
91.2%
17.4%
19.5%
18.7%
7.8%
7.2%
30.7%
3.2%
25.5%
8.6%
Before my exchange During my exchange After my exchange NeverPRIME 2010
Learning Agreement
87% of institutions use official form of Learning Agreement provided by European Commission75% of students make changes to the Learning Agreement
73%
23%
1%1% 2%
Signing the Learning Agreement
Before exchange
During exchange
After exchange
LA not signed
Don't remember
0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70% 58%
51%
16% 13%
Reasons for changing the courses
PRIME 2010
ECTS
93% of students use ECTS in their Learning Agreement
37%
59%
4%
Usage of ECTS credits
Together with national credit systemAs the only credit systemECTS are not used Other
According to type of course
According to workload
According to both workload and type of course
1%
13%
43%
43%
Calculation of the ECTS credits
PRIME 2010
Grade transferConversion of grades at home university upon return
PRIME 2010
Erasmus grants
Almost 100% of Erasmus students receive the grant4% of students are required to pay back part or entire grant
Reasons
53%
16%
9%
22%
Too little time spent abroad/early return
Lack of ECTS credits or equivalent
Failed exams
Other
PRIME 2010
Recognition: the concept
No common definition-subject of interpretationFull recognition according to ESN:• “All the credits earned during the
exchange and that were originally present in the final version of the Learning Agreement are recognised by the home university without a need to take any further courses or exams.”
PRIME 2010
Recognition:procedures
38%
14%
38%
11%
Need of professors approval be-fore courses were recognised
No Yes, for some courses
Yes, for all courses Not knowFacu
lty E
rasm
us c
oord
inat
or
Stud
y pr
ogra
m d
irect
or /
adv
isor
Dea
n /
head
of t
he d
epar
tmen
t
Insti
tutio
nal E
rasm
us c
oord
inat
or
Prof
esso
rs
Inte
rnati
onal
Rel
ation
s O
ffice
Spec
ial r
ecog
nitio
n co
mm
ittee
I don
't kn
ow
0%
10%
20%
30%
40% 38%
20% 18% 16% 16% 14%7% 10%
Parties involved in recognition of courses studied abroad
PRIME 2010
Recognitionand exams upon return
73.08%
23.93%
3%Full Partial No recognition
None 62.20% 0.148926014319809 0.0128878281622912
Less than 50% 0.0677804295942721 0.0466587112171838 0.00250596658711218
More than 50% 0.0263723150357996 0.0346062052505967 0.00274463007159906
All 0.0146778042959427 0.00906921241050122 0.0118138424821002
5.00%
15.00%
25.00%
35.00%
45.00%
55.00%
65.00%
75.00%
62.20%
PRIME 2010
Recognition: decisive factors
Country of home institutionField of studiesInformation provisionChanges in the LANeed of professors approvalParties involved in signing the LA and recognising courses
PRIME 2010
Recognition:remaining challenges
Incompatibility of study programmesProblems with credit calculationProblems with grade transferBureaucratic issuesAttitude of certain professorsInsufficient information provision
PRIME 2010
Recommendations
Binding bilateral agreementsFlexible study programmes and creation of “mobility windows”ECTS as the only credits system, uniformity in ECTS calculationUsage of ECTS grading scale or development of other grade conversion methodCommon guidelines on course recognition and specific roles for all partiesBetter and more timely information provisionInformation and training provided to professors
THANK YOU FOR
ATTENTION