Graduates with international experience fare much better on the job market, are half as likely to experience long-term unemployment, and have a 23% lower unemployment rate five years after graduation.

Young people who study or train abroad not only gain knowledge in specific disciplines, but also strengthen key transversal skills which are highly valued by employers. A new study on the impact of the European Union’s Erasmus student exchange programme shows that graduates with international experience fare much better on the job market. They are half as likely to experience long-term unemployment compared with those who have not studied or trained abroad and, five years after graduation, their unemployment rate is 23% lower. The study, compiled by independent experts, is the largest of its kind and received feedback from nearly 80 000 respondents including students and businesses.

This research study suggests that Erasmus mobility increases employability.

And what about teachers’ mobility?

For more than 70% of the staff, the most important effect of staff mobility was the gain in knowledge of good practice and skills for their work at their home HEI. The academic staff also saw substantial effects on the promotion of new ideas and methods, as well as on teaching skills, resulting from the mobility of teaching staff. Furthermore, academic staff also observed beneficial effects on the quality of teaching
(81%), while 92% saw effects on multi-disciplinary and cross-organisational cooperation as well as international cooperation, in general.

This research study also suggests that Erasmus mobility enhances teaching quality.