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More than 90 % of Erasmus students perceived a gain if outcomes are not properly followed up, the
in their confidence through studying abroad. whole experience may be stored away in a
remote attic in the heads of the participants
erasmus impact study, 2014 from where it has no impact on their future
lives. interventions in all the three phases must
stood what it all is about (reichel, 1999). but it be geared to the target group and consistent
makes sense to try to help the participants by with one another. this is true for all mobility
removing the trivial, practical problems, which experiences undertaken for learning purposes,
can take the focus and energy away from the but whereas one may get away with little
ones that are crucial to the learning processes; when dealing with resourceful young people
to prepare the participants by giving them and still register a positive impact, a careless
knowledge and competences that can help attitude to this with disadvantaged target
them solve these crucial problems; and to groups is likely to produce a disaster, with par-
monitor the stays so that it would be pos- ticipants ending up with a negative experience
sible to intervene if things threatened to fall and even worse off than before.
apart. Generally, when dealing with the target
group of young people with few resources, it
is essential to ensure that the challenges they
encounter are of such a nature and scope that
they – maybe with a little help – can realistical-
ly overcome them. the term “scaffolding” from
social constructivist theory is appropriate here:
the organiser should provide just enough sup- Bibliography
port to allow the participants to reach heights becker, c., Goldkamp, s. & Kroos, D. (2012): Grenz-
they would not have been able to scale alone, überschreitende Mobilität bei sozial benachteiligten
but the ownership of the process belongs to Jugendlichen in der berufsbildung – Kompetenz-
the participants. erwerb und besonderer nutzen der auslands-
erfahrung. na beim bibb. federal Ministry of labour
and social affairs (2011): Mid-term review of the
2: Adopt a holistic view on all the phases of the esf-programme ida: integration through exchange.
project – before, during, and after. adequate Jarvis, p. (1999): the practitioner-researcher: Develop-
preparation for a mobility experience ideally ing theory from practice. new york: Jossey-bass.
contains linguistic, cultural, practical, psycho- Kristensen, s. (2004b): Disadvantaged groups in trans-
logical, and pedagogical aspects. During the national placement projects. luxembourg, Office for
stay, monitoring and possibly mentoring must Official publications of the european communities.
be provided. in the debriefing phase, partici- la brack, b. (1993): the missing linkage: the process
pants must be helped to discuss and reflect of integrating orientation and reentry. in r. Michael
on their experiences; learning outcomes (both paige (ed.): education for the intercultural experience.
yarmouth: intercultural press inc.
intended and unintended) must be evaluated,
documented and possibly recognised; and Mezirow, J. (2000): learning to think like an adult: core
concepts of transformation theory. in Mezirow, J. (ed.)
guidance must be provided to help them act learning as transformation: critical perspectives on a
on the acquired knowledge, skills, and compe- theory in progress. new york: Jossey-bass.
tences. all of these phases are in themselves reichel, D. (1999): the franco-German youth Organ-
of a vital importance to the project, but even isation: reflections on 35 years of experience. in
more important – as argued by la brack (1993) international reconstruction – european yearbook on
and stadler (1994) – is the totality of the three: youth policy and research, Vol. 2. Walther de Gruyter:
berlin, new york.
without adequate preparation, the stay may
disintegrate; but without provisions for moni- stadler, p. (1994): Globales und interkulturelles lernen
in Verbindung mit auslandsaufenthalten – ein bildungs-
toring and/or mentoring during the stay, even konzept. saarbrücken, Verlag für entwicklungspolitik
the best preparation may be of no avail. finally, breitenbach Gmbh.

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