2017
Authors
Simoes, D; Pinheiro, M; Santos, CA; Filipe, S; Barbosa, B; Dias, GP;
Publication
PROCEEDINGS OF THE HEAD'17 - 3RD INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON HIGHER EDUCATION ADVANCES
Abstract
2017
Authors
Santos, CA; Barbosa, B; Filipe, S; Pinheiro, MM; Simoes, D; Dias, GP;
Publication
3RD INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON LIFELONG LEARNING AND LEADERSHIP FOR ALL (ICLEL 2017)
Abstract
This study aims to contribute to the growing literature on teachers' mobility by exploring perceptions and motivations to join
these activities, in particular through the collection of evidence on the impact a first and only exchange experience has had on
the participants. The research adopts a qualitative methodology in the form of phenomenological interviews with 6 teachers
that engaged on only one mobility initiative. The interviewees shared their personal impressions on mobility, including
reasons, facilitators, and outcomes of the experience. Bureaucratic, financial and residual professional impact, are among the
most cited inhibitors for repeating the initiative. However, most of the participants expect to be become involved again on
mobility assignments someday, especially teachers that identified greater impact from this first experience. The analysis
provides interesting clues for international offices, Erasmus coordinators and university top managers, who devote
considerable effort to the promotion and support of mobility practices.
2017
Authors
Barbosa, B; Santos, CA; Filipe, S; Pinheiro, MM; Simoes, D; Dias, GP;
Publication
10TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF EDUCATION, RESEARCH AND INNOVATION (ICERI2017)
Abstract
Internationalization is a broad concept encompassing multiple facets. Higher Education Institutions (HEI) collaborators are key actors of the internationalization process and outcomes, being essential for education managers to promote internationalization initiatives, namely among their teachers. Nevertheless, the literature indicates that the number of teachers involved in those initiatives is still modest. It is therefore of utmost importance to understand how teachers initiate and maintain mobility assignments, so that HEI can implement effective strategies to promote this facet of internationalization. In this paper, we explore the teacher mobility topic through the lens of the Theory of Reasoned Action and the Theory of Planned Behavior. These two theories have been widely used to explain how people initiate and maintain behaviors, and are particularly relevant to understand teacher mobility. The paper includes results from phenomenological interviews with teachers that had one or more mobility experience under the Erasmus programme. The narratives of the participants in the study evidence the importance of prior intentions, attitudes and subjective norms in the resolution to undertake international assignments. Self-efficacy was also shown as determinant in the decision process of first and subsequent mobility initiatives. This paper also provides cues on how HEI can facilitate and encourage mobility experiences amongst their teaching staff.
2017
Authors
Barbosa, B; Santos, CA; Filipe, S; Pinheiro, MM; Simoes, D; Dias, GP;
Publication
9TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON EDUCATION AND NEW LEARNING TECHNOLOGIES (EDULEARN17)
Abstract
Teachers’ mobility is one of the facets of Higher Education Institutions internationalization, and despite
its importance in implementing the program's purposes it is still disregarded by researchers, with most
mobility studies focusing on students. This research concentrates on highly active mobility teachers
and aims to delve into their experiences, namely by identifying facilitators and goals for this repeated
internationalization and by analyzing the outcomes of these initiatives in their personal lives,
professional activity, home and host students, and for their Universities as a whole.
This study adopts a qualitative exploratory approach. Having as sample universe the teachers of one
Portuguese University that in a 7-year period (2009-2016) engaged in mobility experiences under the
Erasmus program (N = 107), 8 were identified as having the highest number of initiatives and were
invited to participate in this study. From these mobility champions, 5 accepted, resulting in 5
phenomenological interviews. Data was collected in January 2017.
The participants shared an integrated view of the Erasmus mobility, being essential for its success the
additional opportunities of joint research and the strengthening of international relationships and
networks. Prior relations with teachers from the host University and ongoing research projects stood
out among the facilitators. The opportunity to observe and get to know other cultural settings was also
mentioned as one determinant stimulus. Still, the outcomes in terms of teaching methodologies and
best practices as well an effective impact in home students seemed residual. Moreover, the ability to
encourage other teachers to join the program was very limited, often confined to close colleagues and
research partners.
Despite its exploratory nature, this study demonstrates the relevance of further research on mobility
champions to assess the success and possible pitfalls of repeated mobility experiences in terms of
extended institutional outcomes and well as individual gratification of the teachers involved. Based on
the results, we suggest the consideration of a wider set of outcomes in the appraisal of mobility
initiatives, as well as the widespread of champions’ insights on the topic in order to motivate
inexperienced teachers to embrace internationalization. Hopefully this paper is able to inspire not only
research but also teaching mobility initiatives.
2017
Authors
Filipe, S; Barbosa, B; Santos, CA; Pinheiro, M; Simoes, D; Dias, GP;
Publication
INTED2017: 11TH INTERNATIONAL TECHNOLOGY, EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE
Abstract
This research aims to explore the importance of tourism activities for student mobility, considering the decision process, the experience of the students while on mobility, and their loyalty to the host region, including their cooperation in promoting local attractions among relatives and friends. We present qualitative results obtained from focus groups with Erasmus students from diverse countries inside and outside Europe, who spent at least one semester in the University of Aveiro, Portugal. The discussions explored students' perceptions, experiences and practices before and during the mobility. Our results include evidence on how traveling opportunities are an inherent part of Erasmus students' mobility. Overall, their tourist activities are shown as strong enhancers of the learning process while on mobility, despite competing with limited resources of time and money. Traveling is also an opportunity to spend time with family and friends, namely with other mobility students at the same host university, fostering integration and a higher degree of satisfaction with the mobility experience. In turn, the extended exposure to a different language and culture transform mobility students into ideal ambassadors of the host country, contributing significantly to the promotion of their mobility destinations.
2017
Authors
Barbosa, B; Prado Meza, CM;
Publication
9TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON EDUCATION AND NEW LEARNING TECHNOLOGIES (EDULEARN17)
Abstract
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