Global competence 2.0 Mobility obstacles – the reasons behind not going for student exchange Aalto University working group: Eija Kujanpää, School of Science Anita Bisi, School of Electrical Engineering

To move or not to move? Intercultural communications skills are regarded as a crucial part of key professional skills today. International mobility is currently a “must” but is this also the perception of students? What are the needs, hopes, challenges and obstacles for the students in becoming mobile? The session is based on a degree student survey carried out at four Schools at Aalto University in spring 2012 in the fields of technology, art and design as well as business. The objective of session is to analyze the reasons for students to go or not to go abroad and to try find out potential challenges and obstacles for mobility. The goal is to further develop tools, methods and incentives encourage outgoing mobility in the future.

Survey background Participating schools –School of Science (SCI) –School of Electrical Engineering (ELEC) –School of Economics (ECON) –School of Art and Design (ARTS) –Survey time –Target group: all degree students intakes of –Technical implementation: webropol

Participation rate 12%

We had different questions for those who wanted to go for an exchange, for those who didn’t want and finally for those, who might want to do an exchange or internship We will first have a look at the obstacles in general and what could be improved, then on issues of internship, language and information

Starting years of nos, maybes and yes

Wherein lies the problem?

Main reasons: 1)Negative experiences of previous attempts to organise an exchange/traineeship abroad (32%; ”no” students) 2)I have already gained so much international experience that another stay abroad would bring no added value to my studies. 3)Family reasons 4)Concern that the period spent abroad will delay or complicate my studies 5)Concern of not managing life abroad (“maybe” students) 6)Financial reasons

What could be done for the nos?

What could be done for the maybes?

11. Which degree would you rather include an exchange/traineeship in: What do the yes students want?

10. When are you planning to go abroad?

7. Which of the following are you interested in?

12. What studies would you complete abroad:

What kind of exchange you like to do? %

13. What do you expect to gain from your experience abroad?

15. When you were choosing your exchange/traineeship destination, did the teaching/working language used at destination affect your decision?

8. What are your criteria for choosing an exchange destination?

Criteria for choosing exchange destination Most important factor: language of instruction Other reasons: –The official language of the country, language area –Possibility of learning a new language, improving language skills –Location, culture, nice and interesting place to live, climate, –8.: Something else: more than 40 answers related to improvement of language skills

22. Which of the following ”internationalisation at home ” opportunities are you interested in? TOP FIVE: 1)”Regular” English-language courses that are common for exchange students and degree students (either wihtin your own major or within the whole School.) 2)Group work: multicultural groups of Finnish and international students 3)Coaching on how to work in a multicultural environment 4)Short special courses focusing on a certain language or culture, with participation from students from the country in question 5)In-depth courses on a certain country or region

Reasons for going abroad What has been a crucial factor in your decision to go abroad? –1.Interest in the target country, its culture and language 59% –2. Career advantages of international experience 37%

9. Which of the following regions interest you?

16. Which teaching/working language do you prefer for your exchange studies/traineeship?

17. In your opinion, does your home university’s language teaching adequately support exchange studies?

21. What could we (your School) do to get you interested in going on an exchange/traineeship?

To be improved Agreement portfolio to target countries to be revised Language & culture teaching at home university Mixing national & international students in courses Fellow student support More traineeship possibilities New models for information distribution –help-desks –Easy-access websites

Topics for discussion 1) Share ideas in small groups –How to distribute information about exchanges at your university for students –Practical training: what kind of possibilities your university offers for your students? –How do you motivate your students to go abroad –Language policy (teaching language) at your university at the moment?