<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Internationalisation of education and student mobility (incoming and outgoing) has become a significant factor in the sphere of higher education. These processes lead to interaction between local students and exchange students, as well as between exchange students and host universities. Being in the foreign country for a certain period (one or two semesters) requires some cultural and social adaptation that could or could not be problematic for various reasons. In order to maximise benefits for the exchange students and host universities, it is important to identify existing problems and to offer possible solutions. The aim of the current paper is to research the critical aspects of cultural adaptation process of ERASMUS students in Latvia. The international group that consists of a professor of the University College of Economics and Culture and three exchange students from Italy and Spain carried out the research. The empirical methods used were the following: a survey of ERASMUS students (non-probability purposive sampling) and semi-structured interviews with the host university ERASMUS coordinators. The data processing methods were the descriptive statistics as well as the thematic content analysis. On the basis of critical issues identified during the research process, the authors worked a set of practical solutions aimed at the host institutions.</p></abstract>

Internationalisation of education and student mobility (incoming and outgoing) has become a significant factor in the sphere of higher education. These processes lead to interaction between local students and exchange students, as well as between exchange students and host universities. Being in the foreign country for a certain period (one or two semesters) requires some cultural and social adaptation that could or could not be problematic for various reasons. In order to maximise benefits for the exchange students and host universities, it is important to identify existing problems and to offer possible solutions. The aim of the current paper is to research the critical aspects of cultural adaptation process of ERASMUS students in Latvia. The international group that consists of a professor of the University College of Economics and Culture and three exchange students from Italy and Spain carried out the research. The empirical methods used were the following: a survey of ERASMUS students (non-probability purposive sampling) and semi-structured interviews with the host university ERASMUS coordinators. The data processing methods were the descriptive statistics as well as the thematic content analysis. On the basis of critical issues identified during the research process, the authors worked a set of practical solutions aimed at the host institutions.

Cultural Adaptation of Erasmus Students in Latvia and Host University Responsibility

The University College of Economics and Culture

Economics and Culture

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Internationalisation of education and student mobility (incoming and outgoing) has become a significant factor in the sphere of higher education. These...

Cultural Adaptation of Erasmus Students in Latvia and Host University Responsibility

Published Online: Dec 29, 2017

Page range: 44 - 54

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/jec-2017-0017

Keywords
internationalisation of education, student mobility, cultural adaptation, social adaptation, university social responsibility

© 2017 Velga Vevere et al., published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Cultural Adaptation of Erasmus Students in Latvia and Host University Responsibility

Published Online: Dec 29, 2017

Page range: 44 - 54

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/jec-2017-0017

Keywordsinternationalisation of education, student mobility, cultural adaptation, social adaptation, university social responsibility

© 2017 Velga Vevere et al., published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Keywords
internationalisation of education, student mobility, cultural adaptation, social adaptation, university social responsibility