International Student Mobility

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International Student Mobility

• UNESCO Forum on Higher Education, Research and
  Knowledge
• Paris, 5th-6th March, 2007
• Prof.Baiba Rivža, Latvia

2
Introduction

• Globalization as a tendency has become very
  apparent in higher education
• Student mobility turning from a luxury into a
  usual part of study process and a regular
  requirement for every student

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International Student Mobility (I)

• Mobility has become a catalyst of education
  system (it indicates its quality resulting in a
  demand for study programmes of a particular
  higher education institution on the part of
  foreign students)
• Bologna process is offering a number of tools for
  student support within their mobility period
  (ECTS)
• Students involvement not only in the use, but
  also in establishment of mobility programmes is
  an essential element in order to balance the
  supply and demand of study process at large and
  in particular, to ensure the quality of mobility
• Financial support to students requires an equally
  intensive involvement in the area of social
  security and development of tax policies

4
International Student Mobility (II)

• EU level student mobility starting the first
  Erasmus mobility programme back in 1987
• Year 1987- 3000 students
• Year 2006 - 150 000 students
• Number of participating European countries 31
• 9 from every 10 higher education institutions in
  those countries participate in the programme

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Students in Latvia HEI 2006./2007.ac.y Total
number of students 129 503
Students of 15 private HEI 33 718 (26)
Students of state colleges 5605 (4)
Students of private colleges 5364 (4)
Students of 19 state HEI 84 816 (66)
Full time students 74 381 (57)
Part time students 55 122 (43)
Students financed by state 30 179 (23)
Studying for the fee 99324 (77)
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Erasmus and Latvia (I)

• 1999/2000 166 students form Latvia participated
  in Erasmus programme
• 2005/06 681 students form Latvia participated in
  Erasmus programme
• Since 1999 till 2006 2385 students from Latvia
  have participated in Erasmus
• Since 1999 till 2006 615 students from other
  countries have studied in Latvia

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Erasmus and Latvia (II)

• 1881 bachelor students form Latvia have
  participated in Erasmus (1999-2006)
• 438 master students from Latvia have participated
  in Erasmus (1999-2006)
• 66 doctor students from Latvia have participated
  in Erasmus (1999-2006)

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Erasmus and Latvia (III)

• Opinion about possibility to work in another
  Member State at the end of course as a result of
  Erasmus experience (2002/2003 ac.y, n211)

Do not know
15,50
Possible
9,30
Yes
46,40
No
28,90
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Erasmus and Latvia (IV)

• Opinion about possibility to work in another
  Member State at the end of course as a result of
  Erasmus experience (2005/2006 ac.y, n533)

Do not know 9
Possible 8
Yes 62
No 21
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Erasmus and Latvia (V)2005/2006 ac.y, n533
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Erasmus and Latvia (VI)2005/2006 ac.y, n533
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Conclusions (I)

• Students were asked to make recommendations to
  other students regarding Erasmus participation.
  The students form Latvia recommended the
  following
• personal initiative, activity and being open to
  new experiences are crucial
• try to acquire as much information as possible
  about the host university, program of study,
  housing etc.
• foreign language skills are an absolute
  necessity
• seek out opportunities to study as part of the
  Erasmus program not only for a few months or a
  semester, but an entire academic year

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Conclusions (II)

• establish contact with former Erasmus students as
  a source of new information
• count on higher expenses than anticipated, try to
  get additional financial aid to supplement the
  Erasmus grant
• before leaving for your host university make sure
  you have filled all your obligations at your
  university
• simply take advantage of this excellent
  opportunity and recommend it to others!

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• Thank you!