Mobility policies of Erasmus countries compared
A new report by the Academic Cooperation Association (ACA) shows there are important similarities between the 32 Erasmus countries in their policies on student mobility.
The report, called European and national policies for academic mobility. Linking rhetoric, practice and mobility trends, is the result of a study conducted in cooperation with Nuffic and DAAD. It examines policy rationales, the focus and types of mobility, national policy frameworks and measures that encourage international student mobility.
Three types of analysis
The report includes an analysis of:
- The development – at the central European level – of policy strategies and measures in relation to international student mobility from the 1970s onwards;
- The national mobility policies in the 32 countries that participate in the Erasmus programme; and
- Detailed case studies of national mobility policies in the Netherlands, Austria, Cyprus, Germany, Norway, Romania, Spain and the United Kingdom.
No clear recruitment targets
National policy documents often specify that foreign student recruitment should be increased, but do not indicate how this should be done. Most documents do not specify clear recruitment targets, nor do they differentiate clearly between the different types of mobility, the desired directions and target countries for mobility.
Finland and Estonia are the only countries that have developed relatively detailed mobility policies.
Similar priorities
One trend relating to different types of mobility is clear, however: most Erasmus countries prioritise outbound credit mobility (mainly at bachelor’s level) and inbound degree mobility (at master’s and PhD levels).
In the Netherlands, Wallonia, Austria and Switzerland there are some concerns over a relatively high incoming mobility from neighbouring countries, and a wish to find a better balance between inbound and outbound mobility.
EU and national policies interrelated
The report also offers a comparison between EU and national-level policies and suggests that EU and national policies are interrelated, with policy influences likely working in both directions.
Nevertheless, there is a difference in the policy rationales for international student mobility between the EU and national levels. In the EU context, mobility is mainly meant to encourage European integration and identity formation, while this is not a priority for national governments.
National policies are aimed at internationalisation and quality improvement of higher education, better student preparation for work in an international environment, and at creating better relations with other countries.
You can order the study on the website of Lemmens Medien.
Read more
Read a blog post on the subject by Rosa Becker, one of Nuffic’s co-authors of the ENPMOB study