Erasmus staff exchanges

ERASMUS+ Teaching/Training Exchanges for individuals, the
institution as a whole and the degree programmes of The Hague
University of Applied Sciences (THUAS), the Netherlands. The
method employed was a series of semi-structured interviews,
following initial email contact of 32 (approx. 1.5% of staff) who
had been on exchange, or were scheduled to be, during the
academic year. Interviews were agreed with 7 staff. Leask (2015)
identified a lack of research in this area, and it is hoped this
research will help to stimulate thinking on this issue. Despite the
small sample size, general preliminary conclusions can be drawn
and further research is encouraged. The article examines
processes and procedures in place for monitoring such
exchanges, and it also explores control and monitoring prior to
the exchange taking place, as well as post-exchange outcomes
and evaluations. It describes the context and theoretical
frameworks and discusses the major findings, including accounts
of the participants’ experiences and the benefits for them as
individuals, their perceptions, their line manager’s responses and
institutional policies and processes. The conclusion has
recommendations for improvement based upon the
participants’ comments. The main message of this article is the
need to set goals for the individual and the institution and to
evaluate them upon return.