Skip to main content

Designing a Successful International Course: What Can We Learn from Students’ Experiences on an Erasmus Intensive Programme?

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Exporting Transnational Education

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.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 89.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 119.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 119.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

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.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • BERA (2011) Ethical guidelines for educational research. London: BERA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bilecen, B. (2013) Negotiating differences: Cosmopolitan experiences of international doctoral students. Compare: A Journal of Comparative and International Education, 43(5), 667–688.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carter, A. (2015) Carter review of Initial Teacher Training (ITT). Manchester: DfE

    Google Scholar 

  • Daniels, J. (2013) Internationalisation, higher education and educators’ perceptions of their practices. Teaching in Higher Education, 18(3), 236–248.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • 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.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • 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.

    Google Scholar 

  • 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.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kreber, C. (2009) Different perspectives on internationalisation in higher education. New Directions for Teaching and Learning, 118, 1–14

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • 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.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • 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.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • 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.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mitchell, K. (2012) Student mobility and European identity: Erasmus study as a civic experience? Journal of Contemporary European Research, 8(4), 490–518.

    Google Scholar 

  • Robson, S. (2014) Internationalization: A transformative agenda for higher education? Teachers and Teaching: Theory and Practice, 17(6), 619–630.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • 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.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • 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.

    Google Scholar 

  • 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.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • 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.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zylkiewicz-Plonska (2013) The importance of socio-cultural context of learning, specificity of working with culturally diverse groups of students. TILTAI, 3, 103–113

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gill Richards .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2018 The Author(s)

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

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)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics