Cultural Adaptation of Erasmus Students in Latvia and Host University Responsibility

  1. Vevere, Velga 3
  2. Resentini, Consuelo 2
  3. Alfaya, Marcos Garcia 1
  4. Mejuto, Angel Muniz 1
  1. 1 Universidade de Vigo
    info

    Universidade de Vigo

    Vigo, España

    ROR https://ror.org/05rdf8595

  2. 2 University of Milano-Bicocca
    info

    University of Milano-Bicocca

    Milán, Italia

    ROR https://ror.org/01ynf4891

  3. 3 University College of Economics and Culture
    info

    University College of Economics and Culture

    Riga, Letonia

    ROR https://ror.org/05tyb9s14

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Revista:
Economics and Culture

ISSN: 2256-0173

Año de publicación: 2017

Volumen: 14

Número: 2

Páginas: 44-54

Tipo: Artículo

DOI: 10.1515/JEC-2017-0017 GOOGLE SCHOLAR lock_openAcceso abierto editor

Otras publicaciones en: Economics and Culture

Resumen

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

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