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A Bourdieusian analysis of the participation of Polish students in the ERASMUS programme: cultural and social capital perspectives

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Abstract

In this paper we examine the perceptions of ERASMUS agents’ of Polish students’ participation in the EP. We provide a Bourdieusian analyse of the cultural and social capital acquisition of students based on the qualitative data, collected through semi-structured, in-depth interviews with Erasmus agents, of a European research project. We argue that: Polish students’ participation in the EP has a positive impact on their academic achievement, cultural, social and linguistic capital, but, at the same time, it has a negative impact on degree completion of students as they get highly paid jobs, which prevent them from fully developing their cultural capital; ERASMUS Tourism has its value and place in the EP, because it provides students with the opportunity to develop their cultural, social and linguistic capital; and a Bourdieusian analysis of the experiences of ERASMUS students provides a better understanding of the impact student participation in the EP on their development.

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  1. International Centre for Higher Education Management (ICHEM), School of Management, University of Bath, Bath, UK

    Paulo Charles Pimentel Bótas & Jeroen Huisman

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  1. Paulo Charles Pimentel Bótas
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  2. Jeroen Huisman
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Correspondence to Paulo Charles Pimentel Bótas.

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Bótas, P.C.P., Huisman, J. A Bourdieusian analysis of the participation of Polish students in the ERASMUS programme: cultural and social capital perspectives. High Educ 66, 741–754 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-013-9635-7

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