Academic mobility as a growth opportunity for HEIs

Current contribution shows the importance and the potential of academic mobility within the European Union based on data from the Erasmus exchange programme. The mobility of students in the form of study or work placements can be quite effective for all parties concerned. Gained experience can stimulate growth or social innovations in societies involved and thus contribute very positively to a changing and competitive environment. The aim of this paper is twofold: First, the main goal of this project is to highlight the importance of the Erasmus programme for the personal development of students. The second aim is to compare and map Belgian and Czech Erasmus exchange student experiences. The current paper consists of a literature review on the Erasmus programme, both from a Czech as well as a Belgian perspective. The Businet platform was used for selection of Czech and Belgium HEIs. A pilot study will be conducted in one HEI in the Czech Republic and one in Belgium in Spring 2015. This paper recognizes the additional value of the Erasmus programme as HEIs need to be able to offer an international experience to Business Studies students and identifies the gained knowledge and skills of such an exchangeno issnstatus: publishe