Page 6 - euroguidance-insight-newsletter-2015-autumn

Student mobility counselling – who is involved?

Within the framework of master’s
degree studies in career counselling,
I had the opportunity to observe the
Erasmus student mobility process
at the University of Latvia. In my
thesis, I compared the experience of
students and mobility support pro-
viders at the University of Latvia with
the student mobility support needs
identified and best practice examples
developed by researchers and practi-
tioners in the Euroguidance Mobility
work group, various EU countries,
the USA and Australia. The thesis
analysed what sort of support is
offered to Erasmus student mobility
participants, what kind of support is academic requirements of the de- refer them to useful information
needed, and how closely a student’s gree they are studying. If the cur- sources on finding accommodation.
choice to participate in mobility is riculum of their degree programme In the ideal case, if a student has
linked to his or her career planning. is not sufficiently flexible, they may access to career guidance counsel-
fail to achieve credit transfer and fall ling early enough in the learning
Support for student mobility can behind in their studies. pathway, student mobility can be
be divided into three stages: before foreseen in his or her career plan and
leaving the home university, during - It sometimes happens that those preparations like learning languages,
the period abroad, and after return- activities foreseen by the Erasmus saving up for mobility-related ex-
ing from the mobility experience. student agreement do not take place penses, or gaining basic intercultural
at the host institution due to a lack skills can be made. Thereby mobility
Before leaving, the main body of of participants or human resources. gains in added value – it becomes a
support is related to information-giv- better grounded and more purpose-
ing and help with administrative - Without guidance, it is very difficult ful activity.
issues. Students are informed about to find a good placement.
the Erasmus programme’s require- During the mobility period Erasmus
ments, shown where to find courses It must be noted that if students do Student Network participants offer
offered by partner universities, and not have sufficient host country lan- peer mentoring and cultural aware-
told how to apply. It is assumed that guage skills, their choice of courses, ness-raising activities. If needed,
the student will select those cours- as well as the scope and responsibili- the sending and hosting Erasmus
es or placements that best match ty of tasks they can perform during a Coordinators can provide support in
the student’s interests and that the placement becomes limited. handling administrative, academic
home faculty will assign credit points Students have to make decisions or practical problems. Emotional
for the mobility period, as long as about participating in mobility early difficulties can be overcome with the
the courses or placement are com- enough that they can manage to help of peers, as well as friends and
pleted to a satisfactory level. How- acquire language skills which enable family at home, or through psycho-
ever, this phase can also be tricky to them to fully take advantage of the logical assistance. In the case of the
navigate. opportunities offered by mobility. University of Latvia, psychological
support is available even via distance
- Students do not always have an During preparations for a mobility counselling.
adequate understanding of the host period, career counsellors can help
partner’s offer and may not be able students to write their motivation
to select activities which meet the letter and CV, find placements and

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