Where would higher education be without Erasmus?

AEF Europe- Focus sur les IP14 mai 2009

Patricia De SmetUnit Higher Education; « Erasmus »European Commission

Policy priorities in Higher Educationthe modernisation agenda for universities

new skills for new jobs

….. to support the Lisbon Strategy

and the Bologna process• ERASMUS• studies and papers

New skills for new jobs

What jobs will be available in about 10 years ?

Is the training provided now useful to find a job tomorrow ?

Are skills needs and jobs changing all over the EU ?

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Erasmus – a European Success Story (II)

2007/08:

~162 000students (studies)

~18 000students (placements)

3 700 HEIs and still expanding – 31 countries and more

180 000 Erasmus students per year and still increasing

At the end of 2008: in total 2 million students (over 21 years) By 2012: in total 3 million students!

Erasmus student mobility 1987/88-2007/08

180.000

3.244

159.324

0

20.000

40.000

60.000

80.000

100.000

120.000

140.000

160.000

180.000

200.000

Nu

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er o

f st

ud

ents

Numbers 3.244 9.914 19.456 27.906 36.314 51.694 62.362 73.407 84.642 79.874 85.999 97.601 107.652 111.082 115.429 123.957 135.586 144.032 154.421 159.324 180.000

1987/88 1988/89 1989/90 1990/91 1991/92 1992/93 1993/94 1994/95 1995/96 1996/97 1997/98 1998/99 1999/00 2000/01 2001/02 2002/03 2003/04 2004/05 2005/06 2006/07 2007/8

Impact of ERASMUS onImpact of ERASMUS onEuropean Higher European Higher

EducationEducationQuality, Openness and Quality, Openness and

InternationalisationInternationalisation

1.1. Conceptual framework: impact levels and indicatorsConceptual framework: impact levels and indicators

2.2. Study design: literature, surveys, case studiesStudy design: literature, surveys, case studies

3.3. ERASMUS’ impact at system & institutional levelERASMUS’ impact at system & institutional level

4.4. Recommendations (system and institutional levels)Recommendations (system and institutional levels)

Overview of the presentationOverview of the presentation

1.1. Literature reviewLiterature review

2.2. Surveys in 30 countriesSurveys in 30 countries2283 Central ERASMUS coordinators, 951 responses 2283 Central ERASMUS coordinators, 951 responses

(42%)(42%)2157 Institutional leaders, 752 responses (35%)2157 Institutional leaders, 752 responses (35%)1747 Decentral ERASMUS coordinators at 547 institutions1747 Decentral ERASMUS coordinators at 547 institutions

903 responses from 328 institutions (15% resp. 903 responses from 328 institutions (15% resp. 60%)60%)

3.3. 20 Case studies20 Case studies (extent of progress in quality improvement, geographical (extent of progress in quality improvement, geographical spread, types of activities, types of institutions, …)spread, types of activities, types of institutions, …)

Study designStudy design

TTwo ways to understand an “excellent university”:wo ways to understand an “excellent university”:

1.1. an excellent university is in the top 10% or 25% of an excellent university is in the top 10% or 25% of institutions or programmes on the basis of indicators (e.g. institutions or programmes on the basis of indicators (e.g. research qualifications)research qualifications)

2. an excellent university maximises its potential to fully contribute to academic, economic and social development

Excellence versus QualityExcellence versus Quality

Narrow versus inclusive conceptNarrow versus inclusive concept

EExcellencexcellence as an inclusive concept:as an inclusive concept: all institutions can find themselves based on their own all institutions can find themselves based on their own specific characteristics and qualitiesspecific characteristics and qualities

Quality ImprovementQuality Improvement

Conceptual FrameworkConceptual Framework

Impact levels of ERASMUSImpact levels of ERASMUS

ERASMUS PROGRAMME

System level

National/European/Outside Europe

Institutional level

Central Management /Academic departments

Individual level

Students / staff

Conceptual FrameworkConceptual Framework

Activity areas by levelActivity areas by level

ERASMUS PROGRAMMECentralised actions Decentralised actions ToolsIntensive Programs / Thematic Networks / Student Mobility ECTS / EUC / Curriculum Development / Staff Mobility EPS / EILC /…

System level (policy) Institutional level Individuallevel

Quality improvement in HE in terms of:Teaching Research OpennessAcademic development Generating new knowledge ModernisationLabour market preparation Knowledge transfer InternationalisationSocial/personal development European dimension

Economic development

Europe NationalBologna PoliciesActivities Activities

Central DepartmentMission/profile Teaching/learningModernisation ResearchInternationalisation Student servicesQuality/HRM Openness & Student services modernisation

Activity areas & IndicatorsActivity areas & Indicators

System levelSystem level

European level policies & activities - Bologna process (undergraduate/graduate structure) - Diploma supplements - ECTS - Quality assurance frameworks - Mobility programmes - ERASMUS/Internationalisation unit in the Ministry - Setting up internationalisation/mobility scholarships - Portability of student loans and grants - Stimulation of clone programs

National level policies & activities - Mainstream internationalisation policies and

strategies - Degree recognition procedures and offices - National mobility programmes - Internationalisation/ERASMUS networks - Cross-ministry mobility policies (Ministries of

Economic, Foreign, Education, Immigration Affairs) (for example. policies related to “knowledge workers” and visa issues)

- Monitoring student mobility (databases) - National information platforms - Organisation of conferences - Student organisations for international students

Impact at individual level

Upgrading skills Promoting European citizenship Stimulating self reliance Enhancing employability

ERASMUS’ impactERASMUS’ impact

Institutional levelInstitutional level

EERASMUS impact at different levelsRASMUS impact at different levels

1.1. Central managementCentral management Internationalisation (92 % top mgnt)Internationalisation (92 % top mgnt)Modernisation of managementModernisation of managementUniversity – Enterprise relationshipsUniversity – Enterprise relationships

2.2. Academic departmentsAcademic departmentsTeaching Teaching ResearchResearchStudent servicesStudent services

Impact at institutional level

introduction of international offices and support services modernisation and internationalisation of curricula new teaching methods and exchange of good practices transparency and transferability of qualifications active participation in international research projects ( networks,joint publication,benchmarks,..) Internationalisation strategy University-Enterprise cooperation

ERASMUS’ impactERASMUS’ impact

System levelSystem level

NNo Bologna without ERASMUS !o Bologna without ERASMUS !

1.1. Bologna process:Bologna process: 5 out of 6 action lines direct from 5 out of 6 action lines direct from ERASMUS: transparency&recognition( DS, ECTS), ERASMUS: transparency&recognition( DS, ECTS), mobility, QA and European Dimension; joint degreesmobility, QA and European Dimension; joint degrees

1.1. Quality assurance:Quality assurance: pilot projects, ENQA, QA pilot projects, ENQA, QA Standards & Guidelines, EQAR, Qrossroads database, Standards & Guidelines, EQAR, Qrossroads database, EQF (Sectoral QFs), Tuning, AHELO, …EQF (Sectoral QFs), Tuning, AHELO, …

2.2. Wider impact:Wider impact: Classification, Lisbon Strategy, Classification, Lisbon Strategy, Modernisation Agenda, ‘clones’ eg Erasmus Belgica, Modernisation Agenda, ‘clones’ eg Erasmus Belgica, Asian counterpart programme, …Asian counterpart programme, …

Main RecommendationsMain Recommendations

Institutional levelInstitutional level

1.1. Central Management Level:Central Management Level:

1.1. Policy emphasis on internationalisation and Policy emphasis on internationalisation and recognitionrecognition

2.2. Leadership commitmentLeadership commitment3.3. Carefully select ERASMUS partners (more Carefully select ERASMUS partners (more

selective)selective)4.4. Develop service infrastructure (information, Develop service infrastructure (information,

accommodation)accommodation)5.5. Language training, scholarship fundsLanguage training, scholarship funds6.6. Intensify cooperation with enterprisesIntensify cooperation with enterprises7.7. Internationalisation at home with international Internationalisation at home with international

staffstaff8.8. Reward active staffReward active staff

Main RecommendationsMain Recommendations

Institutional levelInstitutional level

2.2. Academic department level:Academic department level:1.1. Positively inform students on mobility in an early Positively inform students on mobility in an early

stagestage2.2. Organise mobile students’ feedbackOrganise mobile students’ feedback3.3. Increase awareness about centralised actionsIncrease awareness about centralised actions4.4. Remove mobstacles (recognition, language, Remove mobstacles (recognition, language,

academic calendars, …)academic calendars, …)5.5. Reduce internal bureaucracy around mobilityReduce internal bureaucracy around mobility6.6. Involve more staff in internationalisation: e.g. Involve more staff in internationalisation: e.g.

special rewardsspecial rewards7.7. Intensify “internationalisation at home”Intensify “internationalisation at home”8.8. Use international staff experiencesUse international staff experiences9.9. Better integrate foreign students in lectures & Better integrate foreign students in lectures &

social activities (give presentations)social activities (give presentations)10.10.Stimulate “soft skills” and intercultural Stimulate “soft skills” and intercultural

cooperation in curriculacooperation in curricula

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Further information

ec.europa.eu/education/erasmus