PROJECTS & PARTNERS
PRIME 2010
Problems of Recognition in Making Erasmus by: Justyna Pisera
ESN has always put a lot of effort into supporting students’ mobility. Yet, after twenty years of the Erasmus Programme, various research, the ESN Survey among them, showed that there are still many obstacles and difficulties that Erasmus students face, with a significant problem of course recognition among them. This is believed to be an important factor discouraging students form studying abroad. Therefore, ESN decided to do something about this problem. That is how the idea of the PRIME project was born. An series of in-depth questionnaires were distributed among students and universities. Their aim was to investigate the existing situation, define problems and provide solutions. In 2009, after a year of intense work of many ESN volunteers, a PRIME final report was produced. It has shown that only 42.6% of exchange students are believed to gain full recognition and no necessity to take any additional courses or exams at the home institution for their period of studies abroad. It has shown that a lot needs to be done in the future. This is why ESN has decided to continue the project in 2010. The second edition of research will bring certain changes and developments to the project. In order to make it more representative, ambitious goals were set. It is planned to extend research to reach 300 universities and 3000 students (last year’s research data came from 100 universities and 2400 students). Moreover, a new qualitative questionnaire for National Agencies will be developed to a gain country-level point of view. Apart from subjects already covered by the previous edition, there are ECTS points, Learning Agreement negotiations, information provision and of course recognition, new issues will be taken into consideration. This year’s survey will examine the division of grants, their calculation and grades transfer. These matters are believed to be factors which often prevent students from going abroad. At the moment, the project is in its first phase. The International coordinator together with the research team, composed of motivated volunteers, are working on new questionnaires. Questionnaires will be made available online in January. This is when a work
PRIME
Problems of Recognition in Making Erasmus
PRIME: ESN input into making the Erasmus Programme better.
of national and local coordinators starts. They will conduct the interview with National Agencies and promote the project at their home universities. Later on, data will be analyzed and published in the PRIME 2010 report. At the same time, a broad dissemination strategy will be launched. Local and national conferences will be organized in participating countries, with a focus on regional recognition problems, showing specific examples of both good and bad practices. The final conference summing up the results is taking place in Brussels in October. In order to make PRIME results more accessible to a wide range of students, a guidebook and a video guide will be produced. It will be a short, yet comprehensive publication, providing relevant information on recognition process and students rights and responsibilities in an attractive form. This all constitutes quite a big and ambitious project. So, is it really worth an effort, one may ask? The answer is yes! The project was trusted with a grant from European Commission, which means its goals are believed to be significant among EU decision makers. Secondly, this research may really help make Erasmus easier and more accessible to students, which is one of our main goals as ESNers! By each section putting a little effort we can all together create a complex report on the recognition situation throughout Europe and therefore provide the Commission with important advice on how to improve the Erasmus programme.
JUSTYNA PISERA PRIME COORDINATOR I come from Poland, where for almost 5 years I was a member of ESN local section at University of Lodz, and I was vice president in 2009. My academic background is Political Science and European Studies. I recently graduated and I am currently living in Brussels. I have spent one semester as an Erasmus student in Lyon, France, which I consider an unforgettable and enriching experience. However, as many other students, I didn’t avoid problems with recognition at my hometown university. This is why I strongly believe in the gravity of PRIME project. I really enjoy working on it, as I consider it an important initiative, which can help to raise the concern of problems of exchange students throughout Europe. I am happy to join multicultural team in ESN Office and the whole society in the capital of Europe. Travels were always one of my passions and challenging as it may be, living in other country for a longer period I consider even better!
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