Mobility
The nature of cross-border mobility is changing. There is a wide variety of types of mobility, each with its own dynamics. Patterns of mobility flows and the underlying causes are the issues treated in this dossier.
Cross-border mobility is seen as an important indicator for internationalisation, and being immersed in new cultures and exposed to new educational approaches can be seen as the most intensive type of international education for most students.
International experience
Students travel abroad to pursue a full degree at a university in another country for a variety of reasons: to seek quality higher education and an international experience, or to find specific specialised programmes or facilities, for instance.
In Europe, and increasingly also in other parts of the world, students also travel abroad to do part of their programme at another institution. These exchanges and other study abroad experiences are often motivated by the view that 21st century graduates will need international and intercultural competencies to function effectively in a global labour market.
Growth in mobility
With the growth in cross-border mobility worldwide, the number of reasons for students, teachers and researchers to go abroad is also growing. They may be looking for higher quality, cultural enrichment, niche programmes or first-class facilities and infrastructure. Or they may be looking for future immigration opportunities.
Do the reasons that motivate degree-seeking students differ from those for exchange students? Do bachelor’s students seek different experiences than PhD students? Are there differences between disciplines? These questions on mobility reasons and mobility patterns take centre stage in this dossier.
Nuffic studies
International student recruitment(1.7 MB) (2012)
Developments in Erasmus mobility(3.0 MB) (2008, in Dutch)
International mobility of knowledge workers in higher education(285.1 kB) (2005, in Dutch)