1. www.esn.org vicepresident@esn.org COUNCIL OF EUROPE Directorate of School, Out-Of-School And Higher Education, Higher Education and Research Division and PEOPLES’ FRIENDSHIP UNIVERSITY OF RUSSIA INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR MAKING THE EUROPEAN HIGHER EDUCATION AREA A REALITY: THE ROLE OF STUDENTS

2. www.esn.org vicepresident@esn.org International Student Experience: Mobility Ewa Krzaklewska Vice President Erasmus Student Network

3. www.esn.org vicepresident@esn.org Content The impact of the mobility The issues in the mobility schemes Students’ role in fostering mobility

4. www.esn.org vicepresident@esn.org 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

5. www.esn.org vicepresident@esn.org International experience Wide range of experiences: -international students (full degree) -specialised degree MA -exchange students (Erasmus,Tempus, CEEPUS, bilateral) -Internship, work -short term experience

6. www.esn.org vicepresident@esn.org 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.

7. www.esn.org vicepresident@esn.org 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)

8. www.esn.org vicepresident@esn.org 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)

9. www.esn.org vicepresident@esn.org 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)

10. www.esn.org vicepresident@esn.org Impact on students+ Best experience in life

11. www.esn.org vicepresident@esn.org Issues of exchange Finances Information Recognition

12. www.esn.org vicepresident@esn.org Financial issues Satisfaction with financial situation is 2,97 (on the 1-5 scale).

13. www.esn.org vicepresident@esn.org

14. www.esn.org vicepresident@esn.org Access to mobility Privilaged group of students have access to mobility International students do not have right to exchange programmes

15. www.esn.org vicepresident@esn.org 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).

16. www.esn.org vicepresident@esn.org Recognition 28% lost a semester at home university

17. www.esn.org vicepresident@esn.org 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.’

18. www.esn.org vicepresident@esn.org Other issues Practicalities e.g. accomodation Inadequate structures (eg. library systems) Visa obstacles Language No equal rights for local and foreign students International ghetto Lack of representation

19. www.esn.org vicepresident@esn.org Role of students Students as agents of change Questioning status quo and demanding solutions Creating partnerships Demanding recognition, also for non- formal education Showing issues before not viewed as important => changing structures

20. www.esn.org vicepresident@esn.org Erasmus Student Network International 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

21. www.esn.org vicepresident@esn.org Students-helping-students During the exchange – buddy-programme – language exchange – orientation week – trips, sports, parties – help-desk/office hours –representation of needs

22. www.esn.org vicepresident@esn.org Students-helping-students Before exchange –motivating –relevant information –improving language skills –internationalization at home After exchange – re-integration – sharing experiences

23. www.esn.org vicepresident@esn.org 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

24. www.esn.org vicepresident@esn.org Why students doing it? Students as more trustworthy helpers Taking responsability for their own institution and student European community Non-formal learning experience for local students „Paying off”already received help Always with students

25. www.esn.org vicepresident@esn.org 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

26. www.esn.org vicepresident@esn.org 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

27. www.esn.org vicepresident@esn.org Suggestions Universities 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 university Student unions’ should consider exchange and international students in their policies Local group should provide evaluation on exchange to universities

28. www.esn.org vicepresident@esn.org Suggestions To 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

29. www.esn.org vicepresident@esn.org 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

30. www.esn.org vicepresident@esn.org Thank you More more data on exchange students see: www.esn.org/survey With questions: vicepresident@esn.org