Tania Berman President Erasmus Student Network president @esn esn

Tania BermanPresident Erasmus Student Network

[email protected]

What is ESN?

One of the biggest non-profit interdisciplinary student’s organisations in EuropeFounded in 1989 • With the return of the 1st Erasmus

studentsAim: support and develop student exchanges and provide an intercultural experience • also to those students who cannot access

a period abroad ('internationalisation at home').

Principle: “Students helping students”

2

International projects

What is PRIME?

Problems of Recognition In Making ErasmusEuropean-wide research projectConducted by ESN with the support of the European Commission and with a partnership of Vilnius University

Two editions: • 1st in 2009• Follow-up in 2010

Objectives

Draw attention of the stakeholders and parties involved in the process of recognition to ever-lasting problems and obstaclesMap and monitor good practicesProvide solutions and recommendationsImprove the quality of exchange and increase the numbers

Fields of the research

Most common practices in Europe regarding:• Information provision about Erasmus and other

exchanges• ECTS• Course credit calculation• Usage of the ECTS at European universities

• Learning Agreement (LA)• Negotiation and signing

• Recognition• Validity of the LA, involved parties, common

problems• Grade transfer• Erasmus and additional grants, tuition fees

PRIME 2009

Recognitionand exams upon return

Nothing; 4%

Partly;

30%Full; 66%

Full Partial No recognition

None 0.43 0.12 0.01

Some courses 0.18 0.14 0.00400000000000001

All courses 0.054 0.03 0.025

5%

15%

25%

35%

45%

55%

65%

PRIME 2009

PRIME 2010

Research

Both qualitative and quantitativeThree-level research:• New: In-depth interview with National Agencies• Online questionnaire for Higher Education

Institutions• Online questionnaire for Students

From February until the end of April16 interviews with National Agencies500 responses from Higher Education Institutions (500% more than in 2009)9000 responses from students (375% more than in 2009)

Information provision26% of students never receive information on exchange students recognition rights

Information provision to students

Exchange students recognition rights

Grade transfer

ECTS/credit system at the host and home university

Learning agreement

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

49.9%

41.1%

75.7%

91.2%

17.4%

19.5%

18.7%

7.8%

7.2%

30.7%

3.2%

25.5%

8.6%

Before my exchange During my exchange After my exchange NeverPRIME 2010

Learning Agreement

87% of institutions use official form of Learning Agreement provided by European Commission75% of students make changes to the Learning Agreement

73%

23%

1%1% 2%

Signing the Learning Agreement

Before exchange

During exchange

After exchange

LA not signed

Don't remember

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70% 58%

51%

16% 13%

Reasons for changing the courses

PRIME 2010

ECTS

93% of students use ECTS in their Learning Agreement

37%

59%

4%

Usage of ECTS credits

Together with national credit systemAs the only credit systemECTS are not used Other

According to type of course

According to workload

According to both workload and type of course

1%

13%

43%

43%

Calculation of the ECTS credits

PRIME 2010

Grade transferConversion of grades at home university upon return

PRIME 2010

Erasmus grants

Almost 100% of Erasmus students receive the grant4% of students are required to pay back part or entire grant

Reasons

53%

16%

9%

22%

Too little time spent abroad/early return

Lack of ECTS credits or equivalent

Failed exams

Other

PRIME 2010

Recognition: the concept

No common definition-subject of interpretationFull recognition according to ESN:• “All the credits earned during the

exchange and that were originally present in the final version of the Learning Agreement are recognised by the home university without a need to take any further courses or exams.”

PRIME 2010

Recognition:procedures

38%

14%

38%

11%

Need of professors approval be-fore courses were recognised

No Yes, for some courses

Yes, for all courses Not knowFacu

lty E

rasm

us c

oord

inat

or

Stud

y pr

ogra

m d

irect

or /

adv

isor

Dea

n /

head

of t

he d

epar

tmen

t

Insti

tutio

nal E

rasm

us c

oord

inat

or

Prof

esso

rs

Inte

rnati

onal

Rel

ation

s O

ffice

Spec

ial r

ecog

nitio

n co

mm

ittee

I don

't kn

ow

0%

10%

20%

30%

40% 38%

20% 18% 16% 16% 14%7% 10%

Parties involved in recognition of courses studied abroad

PRIME 2010

Recognitionand exams upon return

73.08%

23.93%

3%Full Partial No recognition

None 62.20% 0.148926014319809 0.0128878281622912

Less than 50% 0.0677804295942721 0.0466587112171838 0.00250596658711218

More than 50% 0.0263723150357996 0.0346062052505967 0.00274463007159906

All 0.0146778042959427 0.00906921241050122 0.0118138424821002

5.00%

15.00%

25.00%

35.00%

45.00%

55.00%

65.00%

75.00%

62.20%

PRIME 2010

Recognition: decisive factors

Country of home institutionField of studiesInformation provisionChanges in the LANeed of professors approvalParties involved in signing the LA and recognising courses

PRIME 2010

Recognition:remaining challenges

Incompatibility of study programmesProblems with credit calculationProblems with grade transferBureaucratic issuesAttitude of certain professorsInsufficient information provision

PRIME 2010

Recommendations

Binding bilateral agreementsFlexible study programmes and creation of “mobility windows”ECTS as the only credits system, uniformity in ECTS calculationUsage of ECTS grading scale or development of other grade conversion methodCommon guidelines on course recognition and specific roles for all partiesBetter and more timely information provisionInformation and training provided to professors

More information

Justyna Pisera, PRIME Project Coordinator, [email protected]• Final report

THANK YOU FOR

ATTENTION