International Student Mobility

1. International Student Mobility UNESCO Forum on Higher Education, Research and Knowledge Paris, 5th-6th March, 2007 Prof.Baiba Rivža, Latvia

2. Introduction • Globalization as a tendency has become very apparent in higher education • Student mobility: turning from a luxury into a usual part of study process and a regular requirement for every student

3. International Student Mobility (I) • Mobility has become a catalyst of education system (it indicates its quality resulting in a demand for study programmes of a particular higher education institution on the part of foreign students) • Bologna process is offering a number of tools for student support within their mobility period (ECTS) • Students’ involvement not only in the use, but also in establishment of mobility programmes is an essential element in order to balance the supply and demand of study process at large and in particular, to ensure the quality of mobility • Financial support to students requires an equally intensive involvement in the area of social security and development of tax policies

4. International Student Mobility (II) • EU level student mobility: starting the first Erasmus mobility programme back in 1987 • Year 1987- 3000 students • Year 2006 - 150 000 students • Number of participating European countries: 31 • 9 from every 10 higher education institutions in those countries participate in the programme

5. Students in Latvia HEI 2006./2007.ac.yTotal number of students: 129 503 Students of 15 private HEI 33 718 (26%) Students of private colleges 5364 (4%) Students of state colleges 5605 (4%) Students of 19 state HEI 84 816 (66%) Full time students 74 381 (57%) Part time students 55 122 (43%) Students financed by state 30 179 (23%) Studying for the fee 99324 (77%)

6. Erasmus and Latvia (I) • 1999/2000 166 students form Latvia participated in Erasmus programme • 2005/06 681 students form Latvia participated in Erasmus programme • Since 1999 till 2006 2385 students from Latvia have participated in Erasmus • Since 1999 till 2006 615 students from other countries have studied in Latvia

7. Erasmus and Latvia (II) • 1881 bachelor students form Latvia have participated in Erasmus (1999-2006) • 438 master students from Latvia have participated in Erasmus (1999-2006) • 66 doctor students from Latvia have participated in Erasmus (1999-2006)

8. Erasmus and Latvia (III) Opinion about possibility to work in another Member State at the end of course as a result of Erasmus experience (2002/2003 ac.y, n=211) Do not know 15,50% Possible 9,30% Yes 46,40% No 28,90%

9. Erasmus and Latvia (IV) Opinion about possibility to work in another Member State at the end of course as a result of Erasmus experience (2005/2006 ac.y, n=533) Do not know 9 % Possible 8 % Yes 62% No 21%

10. Erasmus and Latvia (V)2005/2006 ac.y, n=533

11. Erasmus and Latvia (VI)2005/2006 ac.y, n=533

12. Conclusions (I) Students were asked to make recommendations to other students regarding Erasmus participation. The students form Latvia recommended the following: • personal initiative, activity and being open to new experiences are crucial; • try to acquire as much information as possible about the host university, program of study, housing etc.; • foreign language skills are an absolute necessity; • seek out opportunities to study as part of the Erasmus program not only for a few months or a semester, but an entire academic year;

13. Conclusions (II) • establish contact with former Erasmus students as a source of new information; • count on higher expenses than anticipated, try to get additional financial aid to supplement the Erasmus grant; • before leaving for your host university make sure you have filled all your obligations at your university; • simply take advantage of this excellent opportunity and recommend it to others!

14. Thank you!