Erasmus+ Student Mobility at the University of Patras… for prospective European educators

Abstract

This paper is an investigation into the mobility experience of Erasmus+ incoming students at the University of Patras. Conducted within the framework of the thematic issue of the ACADEMIA Journal, it sought to identify the factors that motivate prospective European teachers to select University of Patras as a destination for their academic pursuits. Additionally, it sought to assess the impact of Erasmus+ incoming mobility, both for the students and for the university itself. A total of 16 semi-structured interviews were conducted during the autumn of 2024, with incoming Erasmus+ students at Departments of the University of Patras awarding qualifications potentially providing access to the teaching profession -e.g. Departments of Education, Philosophy, Mathematics, Chemistry etc.  It may be noted that the findings of this study are consistent with, or indeed extend, the findings of the international literature on the issues raised. In particular, a notable finding of the study is that students primarily select a destination country rather than a specific university. Furthermore, it appears that they calculate the cost of living based on their city of choice. In consideration of the impact of academic studies, it is imperative to emphasize the significance of enhancing students' cognitive understanding in novel subjects with a view to facilitating progression to the ensuing academic level, but also underscore the challenges emerged in relation to the delivery of studies to incoming students.  Such findings have demonstrated a significant margin for the formulation of proactive policies for the university and the city of Patras. Finally, examining the phenomenon of incoming student mobility during its progression and in situ seems to have yielded invaluable results, providing a potential model for future research on this issue.