Cherry James, London South Bank University
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Assumption: that a period of study abroad is a ‘good
thing’ for students and society alike
Jan Figel: European Commissioner for Education,
Training, Culture and Youth: 'Erasmus programmes
have given 'Europe' real meaning in hundreds of
thousands of families for whom it would otherwise
have remained a vague and abstract concept'.
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Much smaller proportion of UK students have a
period of study abroad than do other European
students - a pity!
Good for CV: valued by employers; students report
positively of experience
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Strictures of QLD
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Little room for optional modules
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Often students doing at least one compulsory
core module for most or all of degree course
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For Law students on QLD hard to fit an
Erasmus year or semester abroad into a three
year QLD
Pay fees to home institution whilst abroad costly to add a year, about to become more
so
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An Erasmus Intensive Programme - about
250 a year
Alternative to studying at a university in a
different EU Member State for a period of
three to twelve months
Funded by EU Lifelong Learning Programme
Staff and students from at least three
universities from at least three EU MSs
Joint study of particular specialised topic
Short period (ten days to six weeks) - can fit
into a university holiday
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LSBU and four other universities
Inholland University of Applied Sciences,
Rotterdam, co-ordinating role
Other partners: University of Ulster; University
of Pècs, Hungary; Cergy Pontoise University,
France
Application for funding for a three year IP
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Requirements: integrated into the study
programme of the participating students
Commission preference for IPs in rapidly
evolving and new areas
Also if IP is in a study area where extended
period of study abroad not possible
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Coming into force of Treaty of Lisbon was
imminent: hence very topical. Area of Freedom,
Security and Justice: Title V ToL
Recognised as area ripe for academic focus:
many conferences etc
Not generally addressed in standard EU law
courses, anticipated this might change
Six specialist topic areas: Terrorism, Organised
Crime, State surveillance, Asylum and
immigration, Free movement of persons,
Citizenship: one student from each university to
each topic
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Multinational teaching of specialist topics
which otherwise not taught much at all
Students and teachers working together in
multinational groups, gaining new
perspectives on topic
Teaching staff to exchange views on teaching
content and new pedagogical approaches and
test teaching methods in international
classroom
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Variety of innovative assessments
Pre-IP phase at home universities:
Two papers:
1. Group paper on implementation of AFSJ law
and policy in university’s Member State
2. Individual paper on an issue within student’s
specialist topic area.
All uploaded onto IP VLE
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Oral presentations on national group papers
and individual papers
Moot court in national groups
Group paper prepared in international
specialist topic groups, on problem scenario
Oral presentation of group paper findings
Classes during IP: specialist lectures, lectures
on national legal and court systems, visits,
group paper coaching
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Diverse – individual and group work both
national and international
Mooting
Oral presentations
Learning about AFSJ law and policy and its
implementation and operation in different
MSs
Erasmus IP aims: ‘...enable students and
teachers to work together in multinational
groups...and gain new perspectives on the
topic being studied’.
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Hard to distinguish cause from effect, but –
Some former participants have gone on to
longer Erasmus exchanges (semester or year)
Some have gone on to Master’s degrees in
international topics at home or abroad
All have said it was very worthwhile, some the
‘most worthwhile’ thing they have done
during their degrees
Element of self selection by those with
‘international’ backgrounds/interests
For staff: expect the unexpected!