 Student mobility refers to a study period taken mainly abroad and returning home afterwards. There are four main aspects on this issue: Horizontal MobilityHorizontal mobility means that students spends a period of their studies in another country. Vertical MobilityVertical mobility means that students take a full degree abroad. EU ProgramsDuring recent years, the European Commission has initiated various student, post graduate and teacher mobility schemes. These are open not only to EU citizens, but also to citizens of EU candidate countries and countries of the European Economic Area. Brain MobilityThe process whereby a country loses its most talented and educated people to other countries because there is a lack of opportunities in their own.
Problems with student moblity
The biggest problems students face when studying abroad is the recognition of their qualifacations across borders. Other problems are problems of funding and access to the welfare systems abroad.
ESU's opinion on the matters
The main issues related to both forms of mobility are questions of recognition. However, whereas recognition issues in horizontal mobility mainly need to be addressed by implementing credit transfer systems and its tools properly, these issues in vertical mobility mainly refer to recognition of qualifications, which need to be resolved by a proper implementation of the Lisbon Recognition Convention and the Diploma Supplement. Governments and HEIs need to implement these tools to enhance both forms of mobility.
The academic value of a study period abroad must be one of the most significant incentives for deciding to study abroad. Full recognition of study periods taken abroad must be secured in order to make the study period academically meaningful. ESU demands that governments sign and ratify the Lisbon convention of recognition. Furthermore, better tools and solutions for recognition problems have to be found. ESU speaks strongly for the possibility of students to build up their degree independently. Access to high quality education in all levels must be an option for all regardless of their citizenship, country or area of birth.
One of the core reasons for low mobility rates is the insufficient funding for students and this needs to be seriously addressed. ESU sees substantial obstacles to mobility on one hand in the influence of economic and educational background of a student and on the other hand in excessive and unnecessary administrative rules. Thus ESU urgently calls upon the signatory states and parties of the Bologna Process to discuss and implement a European mobility fund or mobility system. ESU reiterates the need to guarantee equal access for foreign students to all social services offered to domestic students.
Problems of recognition, financing, information-sharing and language barriers must be determinedly addressed in the context of both horizontal and vertical mobility. The introduction of the two-tier degree structure must not hinder horizontal mobility. Mobility must be a genuine option, not a requirement, and degree structures must allow students to be able to choose when to study abroad. Students should not face the negative consequences if a study period abroad prolongs studies. Development of the quality of national education should be of more importance to all countries than using a majority of their scarce resources to developing second cycle programmes taught in English. Related Documents Links Contact
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