Conclusions

• Author: European Education and Culture Executive Agency (European Commission)
• Pages: 44-45

44 INTRAACP ACADEMIC MOBILITY SCHEME  SCHOLARSHIP HOLDERS’ IMPACT SURVEY RESULTS

TITLE

CONCLUSIONS

Between 2011 and 2020, the Intra-ACP Academic Mobility Scheme granted an opportunity to 1741

scholarship holders to benet from an international academic exchange in Africa (Lot 1) and in the

Caribbean and the Pacic countries (Lot 2). Three Calls for proposals were published in the period

2011-2013, resulting in the selection of 20 projects involving 44 HEIs and representing a total budget

of nearly € 44.000.000.

The survey carried out in 2018-2019, has provided a valuable snapshot of the multileveled impact

of the Programme at individual and institutional level. Given the representativeness of the sample

and views of the respondents, it can be concluded that the Programme has successfully achieved its

aims and objectives.

The survey results conrm that the mobility experience has boosted scholarship holders’ qualications,

encouraged personal development, and strengthened their adaptability to international environment.

In fact, a signicant number of the respondents agree that their current occupation was inuenced

by the mobility.

The positive developments at individual level are also likely to spillover to the home countries of the

scholarship holders as the overwhelming majority of the respondents at the time of the survey have

either returned to their country of origin or were intending to go back upon the completion of their

mobility.

The impact on the institutional actors has been varied and largely favourable. Based on the opinion

of sta and PhD students, it appears that the participation in the Mobility Scheme especially enabled

the HEIs to strengthen their capacity on both academic and administrative levels as well as to raise

their visibility. It is worth noting that on average the respondents believe that the home institutions

have experienced relatively greater impact than their host counterparts.

The results of the survey also indicate that there are no major dierences of opinion among the

respondents across the dierent categories of mobility as well as both Lots.

Notwithstanding the ample positive outcomes of the Programme, some challenges were also

identied. Although the Programme aimed to promote gender balance, gender parity remains an

issue, particularly in Lot 1 – Africa due the prevailing socio-economic conditions on the continent.

In addition, despite achievements, further synergies between HEI on recognition of credits and diplomas

should still be encouraged and supported to maximise the benets of mobility and interinstitutional

cooperation.

Another area that could benet from further improvement is the establishment of feedback loops

to collect feedback from scholarship holders on a regular basis and to subsequently use their inputs

to improve the mobility experience and the monitoring capacities of the institutions. Project quality

assurance and monitoring mechanisms should play a greater role to ensure that the impact on the

institutions is sustainable.

Furthermore, some countries have experienced uneven mobility ows whereby they have received

a signicantly greater number of mobility inows compared to outows. Although both host and

home countries benet from international mobility, considerable disparities in mobility ows should

be addressed to ensure balanced geographical coverage.

CONCLUSIONS