Abstract
This chapter explores the experiences of a group of mature students from three European countries who participated in an Erasmus Intensive Programme, studying for an additional qualification, during a university summer vacation. The group was interviewed to discover their views of learning in a transnational education context and the challenges they encountered. They described enjoying the international learning experience, but all felt very anxious before attending the programme; they were worried about coping with language differences, the intensive mode of study and working with strangers. The “intensive programme” context exacerbated anxieties and situations that would usually take longer to surface and involve longer-term strategies to resolve. These perspectives are drawn upon to identify student-centred issues for universities to consider when planning and delivering international courses.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Armstrong, C. (2013) Collaboration, partnerships and alliances: Perspectives on Erasmus Mundus MA/Magistri in special educational needs. International Journal of Inclusive Education, 17(4), 364–376.
BERA (2011) Ethical guidelines for educational research. London: BERA.
Bilecen, B. (2013) Negotiating differences: Cosmopolitan experiences of international doctoral students. Compare: A Journal of Comparative and International Education, 43(5), 667–688.
Carter, A. (2015) Carter review of Initial Teacher Training (ITT). Manchester: DfE
Daniels, J. (2013) Internationalisation, higher education and educators’ perceptions of their practices. Teaching in Higher Education, 18(3), 236–248.
Ekti, M. (2013) An evaluation regarding to the gains of Erasmus program in terms of language and science. Procedia—Social and Behavioral Sciences, 70, 1800–1809.
Erasmus+ (2016) Erasmus plus programme. Available at: www.erasmus.org.uk
European Commission (2015a) Supporting education and training in Europe and beyond. Available at: www.ec.europa.eu/education/erasmus/doc900 en.htm. Last accessed 8 June 2016.
European Commission (2015b) Erasmus facts, figures and trends. Available at: www.ec.europa.eu/erasmusplus. Last accessed 14 September 2016.
James, C. (2013) Problems encountered by students who went abroad as part of the Erasmus programme and suggestions for solutions. Journal of Instructional Psychology, 40(1), 81–87.
Keogh, J. and Russel-Roberts, E. (2009) Exchange programmes and student mobility: Meeting student’s expectations or an expensive holiday? Nurse Education Today, 29, 108–116.
Kreber, C. (2009) Different perspectives on internationalisation in higher education. New Directions for Teaching and Learning, 118, 1–14
Llanes, A., Tragant, E. and Serrano, R. (2012) The role of individual differences in a study abroad experience: The case of Erasmus students. International Journal of Multilingualism, 9(3), 318–342.
Lloyd, C. (2013) The Erasmus Mundus programme: Providing opportunities to develop better understanding about inclusion and inclusive practice through an international collaborative programme of study. International Journal of Inclusive Education, 17(4), 329–335.
Mellors-Bourne, R., Jones, E., Lawton, W. and Woodfield, S. (2015) Student perspectives on going international. London: UK HE International Unit and British Council. Available at: www.britishcouncil.org/sites/default/files/iu_bc_outwd_mblty_student_perception_sept_15.pdf.
Mintz, J., Mulholland, M. and Peacey, N. (2015) Towards a new reality for teacher education for SEND. DfE SEND in ITT project report and roadmap for SEND. London: UCL Institute of Education.
Mitchell, K. (2012) Student mobility and European identity: Erasmus study as a civic experience? Journal of Contemporary European Research, 8(4), 490–518.
Robson, S. (2014) Internationalization: A transformative agenda for higher education? Teachers and Teaching: Theory and Practice, 17(6), 619–630.
Siska, J., van Swet, J., Pather, S. and Rose, D. (2013) From vision to reality: Managing tensions in the development and implementation of an international collaborative partnership programme for institutional change and sustainable development in inclusive education. International Journal of Inclusive Education, 17(4), 336–348.
Turkan, Y. (2013) Problems encountered by students who went abroad as part of the Erasmus programme and suggestions of solutions. Journal of Instructional Psychology, 40(1–4), 81–87.
Van Swet, J., Brown, K. and Tedla, P. (2013) Learning together: An international master programme in inclusive education, International Journal of Inclusive Education, 17(4), 377–392.
Yücelsin-Tas, Y. (2013) Problems encountered by students who went abroad as part of the Erasmus programme and suggestions for solutions. Journal of Instructional Psychology, 40(1–4), 81–87.
Zylkiewicz-Plonska (2013) The importance of socio-cultural context of learning, specificity of working with culturally diverse groups of students. TILTAI, 3, 103–113
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2018 The Author(s)
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Richards, G., Symeonidou, S., Livaniou, E. (2018). Designing a Successful International Course: What Can We Learn from Students’ Experiences on an Erasmus Intensive Programme?. In: Tsiligiris, V., Lawton, W. (eds) Exporting Transnational Education. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-74739-2_10
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-74739-2_10
Published:
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-74738-5
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-74739-2
eBook Packages: EducationEducation (R0)