At the validation conference of the campaign for full higher education staff and student mobility held in Villeneuve d'Ascq, France from 6-7 October, Education International and the European Students' Union launched the campaign publication "Barometer of Academic Mobility".
Written by Dr. Conor Cradden based on the findings of two surveys conducted by the two partner organisations as well as statistics gathered by UNESCO, the publication highlights the situation of inward and outward staff and student mobility in the forty-six countries involved in the Bologna Process. The Bologna Process is an ambitious plan by European countries (both member and non-member states of the European Union) to co-ordinate national higher education sectors to form a European Higher Education Area (EHEA).
"This publication does not intend to be the conclusive report on the mobility situation in Europe," stated Dr Conor in his opening remark at the launch. "It is the result of an investigation that juxtaposes both the official data generated by each national government on mobility as well as the opinions of the parties involved."
He also said that conditions are very different in each country and the general provision of information has been sporadic. More efforts by both governments and institutions in this area are needed to bring about an improvement of the situation.
The publication is part of the joint campaign "Let's Go!" launched earlier in November 2007 which aims to achieve full freedom of movement for higher education staff and students in Europe. A main component of the publication are the country profiles, which outline the known situation of staff and student mobility in each of the 46 countries. The information is also available on the campaign website: www.letsgocampaign.net
The achievement of full mobility for staff and students in the higher education sector in Europe is one of the key focuses of EI’s work in the sector. The topic is also one of the chief issues highlighted in the realization of the Bologna Process.
Video Interviews
What do staff and students, as well as other stakeholders in the Bologna Process think of the issue of mobility? To find out more, please browse through the video interviews below.
To download the presentations and papers presented at the conference, please refer to the links below.