The ERASMUS Phenomenon - Symbol of a New European Generation?

247 Pages·2013·2.25 MB·English

by  Benjamin Feyen, Ewa Krzaklewska

Education beyond Borders 1 1 Education beyond Borders 1
)
Benjamin Feyen / Ewa Krzaklewska (eds.) s.
d
e
(
The ERASMUS a
k
s
Phenomenon – w Benjamin Feyen / Ewa Krzaklewska (eds.) schiefer
e
l
Symbol of a New k
a
z
European Generation? Kr The ERASMUS
a
w
In 2012, the ERASMUS programme characteristics does it have? Can
E
celebrated its 25th anniversary. As one of ERASMUS serve as a symbol for ‘new’ / Phenomenon –
the best-known initiatives of the EU, it Europeans? n
e
has already enabled almost three million y
e
students to spend a part of their studies F Symbol of a New
abroad. But ERASMUS is more than just a The Editors n
simple academic exchange programme: Benjamin Feyen is researcher at the Insti- mi
designed to contribute to the creation tute of Social Sciences at Heinrich Heine a European Generation?
j
of a ‘People’s Europe’, it has become a University Düsseldorf (Germany). n
e
successful political instrument for shaping B
generations of European students. Ewa Krzaklewska is researcher at the Insti-
This interdisciplinary volume attempts to tute of Sociology at Jagiellonian University
n
explain the fascination behind ERASMUS. in Krakow (Poland). o
The authors examine the role of student n
mobility within the European integration Both have been concerned with e
m
process and judge its impact on how ERASMUS as exchange students, as mem-
o
young citizens identify with Europe. Is bers of the Erasmus Student Network or-
n
there a ‘Generation ERASMUS’, and what ganisation, and as academic researchers. e
h
P
S
U
M
S
A
R
E
e
h
T
ISBN 978-3-631-62719-8
EBB 01-262719_Feyen_AM-A5HC PLE edition new.indd 1 24.04.13 KW 17 10:31
The ERASMUS Phenomenon –
Symbol of a New European Generation?
Sponsored by
Education beyond Borders
Studies in Educational and Academic Mobility and Migration
Edited by Fred Dervin
Volume 1
Scientific Committee
Terri Kim, Brunel University, London, UK
Julie Byrd-Clark, Western University, Canada
Vincenzo Cicchelli, University Paris Descartes, France
Jim Coleman, The Open University, UK
Shibao Gao, University of Calgary, Canada
Prue Holmes, Durham University, UK
Celeste Kinginger, The Pennsylvania State University, USA
Aleksandra Ljalikova, University of Tallinn, Estonia
Regis Machart, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia
Nektaria Palaiologou, University of Western Macedonia, Greece
Jan Van Maele, University of Leuven, Belgium
Albin Wagener, Université Catholique de l'Ouest, France
Anthony Welch, University of Sydney, Australia
Zu Qualitätssicherung und Peer Review Notes on the quality assurance
der vorliegenden Publikation and peer review of this publication
Die Qualität der in dieser Reihe Prior to publication,
erscheinenden Arbeiten wird vor der the quality of the work
Publikation durch externe, von der published in this series is
Herausgeberschaft benannte Gutach- double blind reviewed by external
ter im Double Blind Verfahren geprüft. referees appointed by the editorship.
Dabei ist der Autor der Arbeit den The referees are not aware
Gutachtern während der Prüfung of the author’s name
namentlich nicht bekannt; when performing the review;
die Gutachter bleiben anonym. the referees’ names are not disclosed.
Benjamin Feyen / Ewa Krzaklewska (eds.)
The ERASMUS
Phenomenon –
Symbol of a New
European Generation?
Bibliographic Information published by the Deutsche
Nationalbibliothek
The Deutsche Nationalbibliothek lists this publication in the
Deutsche Nationalbibliografie; detailed bibliographic data is
available in the internet at http://dnb.d-nb.de.
Cover Illustration: © Benjamin Feyen
ERASMUS Annual Conference Germany 2012
ISSN 2194-0886
ISBN 978-3-631-62719-8
© Peter Lang GmbH
Internationaler Verlag der Wissenschaften
Frankfurt am Main 2013
All rights reserved.
Peter Lang Edition is an Imprint of Peter Lang GmbH.
Peter Lang – Frankfurt am Main · Bern · Bruxelles · New York ·
Oxford · Warszawa · Wien
All parts of this publication are protected by copyright. Any
utilisation outside the strict limits of the copyright law, without
the permission of the publisher, is forbidden and liable to
prosecution. This applies in particular to reproductions,
translations, microfilming, and storage and processing in
electronic retrieval systems.
www.peterlang.de
Table of Contents
Introduction
The ERASMUS Programme and the ‘Generation ERASMUS’ –
A Short Overview ............................................................................................ 9
Benjamin Feyen / Ewa Krzaklewska
Part I: The ERASMUS Policy
The Making of a Success Story: The Creation of the ERASMUS
Programme in the Historical Context .............................................................. 21
Benjamin Feyen
Learning for Life? The New Role of the ERASMUS Programme
in the Knowledge Society ................................................................................ 39
Ulrike Klose
Das ERASMUS-Programm: Symbol einer europäisch geprägten
Auswärtigen Kultur- und Bildungspolitik der Bundesrepublik
Deutschland? .................................................................................................... 51
Hannah-Kristin Elenschneider
ERASMUS – for All? Structural Challenges of the EU’s Exchange
Programme ...................................................................................................... 67
Friedrich Heger
Part II: The ERASMUS Experience
ERASMUS Students between Youth and Adulthood: Analysis of the
Biographical Experience ................................................................................. 79
Ewa Krzaklewska
Mit Händen und Füßen durch das Leben: ERASMUS-Studenten und
ihre (nonverbale) interkulturelle Kommunikation .......................................... 97
Johanna Damerau
5
Culture Shock during ERASMUS Exchange – Determinants, Processes,
Prevention ........................................................................................................ 105
Ewa Krzaklewska / Paulina Skórska
Social ERASMUS? Active Citizenship among Exchange Students ............... 127
Larissa Wood
Part III: The ERASMUS Identity
The Influence of the ERASMUS Programme on Strengthening a
European Identity: Case Studies of Spanish and British Exchange
Students ............................................................................................................ 143
Gioia Ambrosi
ERASMUS Student Mobility and the Discovery of New European
Horizons ........................................................................................................... 163
Christof Van Mol
„Ich bin ERASMUS“ – Identitätsschöpfung durch die virtuelle Konstanz
einer visuellen Gemeinschaft? ........................................................................ 175
Agnieszka Roguski
A Matter of Belonging and Trust: The Creation of a European Identity
through the ERASMUS Programme? ............................................................. 191
Jennifer Striebeck
Researching the Impact of ERASMUS on European Identification –
Proposal for a Conceptual Framework ............................................................ 207
Seweryn Krupnik / Ewa Krzaklewska
Conclusion
‘Generation ERASMUS’ – The New Europeans? A Reflection ..................... 229
Benjamin Feyen / Ewa Krzaklewska
Biographies ..................................................................................................... 243
6
Culture Shock during ERASMUS Exchange – Determinants, Processes,
Prevention ........................................................................................................ 105
Ewa Krzaklewska / Paulina Skórska
Social ERASMUS? Active Citizenship among Exchange Students ............... 127
Larissa Wood
Introduction
Part III: The ERASMUS Identity
The Influence of the ERASMUS Programme on Strengthening a
European Identity: Case Studies of Spanish and British Exchange
Students ............................................................................................................ 143
Gioia Ambrosi
ERASMUS Student Mobility and the Discovery of New European
Horizons ........................................................................................................... 163
Christof Van Mol
„Ich bin ERASMUS“ – Identitätsschöpfung durch die virtuelle Konstanz
einer visuellen Gemeinschaft? ........................................................................ 175
Agnieszka Roguski
A Matter of Belonging and Trust: The Creation of a European Identity
through the ERASMUS Programme? ............................................................. 191
Jennifer Striebeck
Researching the Impact of ERASMUS on European Identification –
Proposal for a Conceptual Framework ............................................................ 207
Seweryn Krupnik / Ewa Krzaklewska
Conclusion
‘Generation ERASMUS’ – The New Europeans? A Reflection ..................... 229
Benjamin Feyen / Ewa Krzaklewska
Biographies ..................................................................................................... 243
6

The ERASMUS Programme and the ‘Generation
ERASMUS’ – A Short Overview
Benjamin Feyen and Ewa Krzaklewska
In 2012 the ERASMUS programme celebrated its 25th anniversary. During
its quarter century of existence it has turned into one of the most visible and
popular initiatives of the European Union (EU). The scale of the programme is
doubtlessly impressive: Having started in 1987 with the small number of 3244
students from 11 countries1, today ERASMUS enables around 230,000 students
per year2 to spend three to twelve months abroad in order “to pursue enrich-
ing learning experiences in other countries”3. By now, close to three million
students from more than 4000 higher education institutions4 all over Europe
have participated in ERASMUS, making the programme “the best-known and
largest exchange programme in the world” (European Union 2012: 8), as the EU
itself emphasises.
Despite the programme’s obvious success, however, it should not be over-
looked that ERASMUS did not meet all its goals. Indeed there have been – and
still are – certain issues that have rightly been criticised. Mainly due to a rather
small budget, from the very beginning the number of students participating in the
programme has been much lower than the European Commission had initially set
as the target (see e.g. Feyen in this volume). In 2012, around 4% of all students in
the 33 participating countries5 received an ERASMUS grant during their studies,
while the total annual budget amounts to over 450 million euro6. Neither can this
number of 4% be considered as satisfying according to the EU’s own goals, nor is
the budget sufficient in order to put the programme on a broader scale and make
it open to all students regardless of their financial background. As Heger (this
1 <http://ec.europa.eu/education/erasmus/history_en.htm> (accessed 05.12.2012).
2 <http://ec.europa.eu/education/lifelong-learning-programme/erasmus_en.htm>
(accessed 05.12.2012).
3 <http://ec.europa.eu/education/erasmus/history_en.htm> (accessed 05.12.2012).
4 <http://ec.europa.eu/education/lifelong-learning-programme/erasmus_en.htm>
(accessed 05.12.2012).
5 BBeessiiddeess tthhee EEUU MMeemmbbeerr SSttaatteess,, tthheessee aarree tthhee ootthheerr ccoouunnttrriieess bbeelloonnggiinngg ttoo tthhee EEuurrooppeeaann EEccoo--
nomic Area (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) as well as Switzerland and the EU candidate
countries Croatia and Turkey. Furthermore, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia is
currently participating under the ‘preparatory measures phase’. See <http://ec.europa.eu/edu-
cation/lifelong-learning-programme/national_en.htm> (accessed 05.12.2012).
6 <http://ec.europa.eu/education/lifelong-learning-programme/erasmus_en.htm>
(accessed 05.12.2012).
9