Socrates - Erasmus : an analysis of Maltese students' mobility into European higher education institutions

Abstract

Maltese students have been active in European Exchange Programmes within the Socrates Programme since 1 999. Students from different Faculties and Departments have followed half semester, one semester and annual courses in European Universities. Students are transferring Credits through the European Credit Transfer System to the University of Malta. The major aim of the study was to identify the strengths and weaknesses of Maltese Higher Education Erasmus students' participation in European Programmes. The research focused on what quality, educational and life experience is being provided to students taking part in Erasmus. A qualitative and quantitative analysis was carried out to distinguish the advantages and disadvantages incurred in such activities and the support or lack of it, which Maltese students got from the home and host institutions. In the second chapter. a historical and bibliographic research set the scene for the University of Malta's participation in the Erasmus Programme. The questionnaires were designed to get a general view of the Erasmus experience, whilst the interviews and case studies enabled the authors to get a more detailed picture of the same experience. Through the analysis of the data, it was evident that individuals gained significantly from the experience. In most cases students claimed that the whole Erasmus experience is a lifetime opportunity.