Erasmus + as an Instrument of Encouraging International Cooperation and Developing Cultural Awareness of Students/Erasmus+ kao instrument poticanja međunarodne suradnje i razvitka kulturne svjesnosti studenata

Abstract

Abstract

The aim of the research described in this article was to look into the usefulness and benefits of the Erasmus+ Programme. The research also included university students’ reflections and evaluations of their own experience during the period spent on Erasmus+ exchange, focusing on the cultural aspects of their experience. To establish the importance of Erasmus+, it was first necessary to define what the concept of ‘culture’ encompasses. Furthermore, it was important to look into the development of cultural awareness and intercultural learning of participants within such an exchange programme – people from different cultural backgrounds. For that purpose, a questionnaire was designed, which was filled in by 100 students from 22 countries, including Croatia. The results have shown that the participants learned very much about the culture of the particular country in which they were on exchange. In addition, they learned about the cultures of the other participants in the programme. Most participants replied that during the exchange they had felt a difference between their own culture and other cultures, and they emphasized possible future benefits. According to the results, the Erasmus+ Programme facilitates to a great extent the participants’ understanding and accepting of foreign cultures. Therefore, the young people who have had the opportunity to participate in the programme feel considerate advantages in their personal development. In addition, they believe that the multicultural experience will bring about multiple opportunities in their professional lives.  

Key words: academic mobility; civilisation; culture; interculturality; intercultural learning. 

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Sažetak

Cilj istraživanja opisanoga u ovome radu bio je ispitati prednosti Erasmus+ programa i promišljanja studenata o vlastitim iskustvima tijekom provedenoga vremena na Erasmus+ razmjeni studenata, s time da je težište na kulturnom aspektu. Kako bi se dokazala važnost programa Erasmus+, najprije je bilo potrebno pobliže objasniti i proučiti što je to kultura. Zatim je bilo potrebno proučiti kulturnu svjesnost i međukulturno učenje kao posljedice iskustva razmjene, i to s gledišta osoba različitih kulturnih pozadina. S tom svrhom sastavljen je upitnik koji je ispunilo 100 studenata iz 22 različite države, uključujući i Hrvatsku. Rezultati su pokazali kako su ispitanici naučili vrlo mnogo i o kulturi same države u kojoj su bili, a isto tako i o kulturi drugih sudionika programa. Najviše je ispitanika odgovorilo kako su tijekom mobilnosti osjetili razliku između vlastite i tuđe kulture i istaknuli su koristi koje će zbog spomenutoga iskustva imati u budućnosti. Prema dobivenim rezultatima možemo zaključiti kako je program Erasmus+ važan i koristan  što se tiče shvaćanja i prihvaćanja tuđih kultura te da osobe koje su imale priliku sudjelovati u programu osjećaju prednosti, kako u svom osobnom razvitku tako i u povećanim mogućnostima za uspjeh u budućnosti.  

Ključne riječi: akademska mobilnost; civilizacija; međukulturnost; međukulturno učenje.