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I found it most exciting to see that we are all the same there is scientific proof of the significance of
and that there is not much that differentiates us. educational exchange in promoting european
People lump stereotypes together, the Spanish are like attachment and developing a european
identity. research shows that the extensive
this, the Germans are like that, but in the end we are transnational interaction that occurs during

all alike… the stay abroad contributes to attitudinal
changes regarding europe among the partici-
German student in erasmus impact study, 2014 pants. it also illuminates significant differences
between the mobile and sedentary students in
sters a sense of empathy and responsibility – terms of support for the eu and the extent of
to oneself and to others – as well as the identifying oneself as a european. for example,
appreciation that every human being is valu- a recent eu-wide study carried out among
able. tolerance is the act of building bridges erasmus students reveals that studying abroad
between communities, connecting with has made them more interested in other
others and seeing differences as invitations european countries (91 % of respondents) as
for dialogue, sharing and learning by doing. in well as in other european people and cultures
brief, the need for tolerance is more essential (93 %); a solid majority of them have become
than ever before in our world with increasing more interested in the eu (66 %) and have a
globalization, greater interdependence of stronger feeling of being europeans (73 %) as a
countries and higher mobility of people. result of studying abroad. (Mitchell, 2012)

international mobility teacHing according to other national (e.g. ciMO and
tolerance Demos helsinki, 2013), european (e.g. siga-
for some decades already, the european union las, 2009) and international studies (e.g. Qsl,
has been actively promoting various types of 2014), the majority of students participating
mobility (and currently does so with the eras- in cross-border mobility report an increased
mus+ programme 2014–2020). Outstanding openness towards and better understanding
results have been achieved across europe as of other cultures, enlarged social and profes-
young, adult, and senior citizens from all walks sional networks, improved communication
of life have engaged themselves in a mobility and language skills, and a better awareness
period in another european country. for one of what it takes to be living abroad. they also
thing, these mobility periods have served report a higher sensitivity to coping with
for lifelong learning and acquisition of new multiculturalism and the moral controversies
professional skills; for another thing, they have that such diversity may generate in one’s
contributed to broadening the mental hori- everyday life and in all human interaction. this
zons, deepening the soft skills, and expanding shows that there is a strong positive impact of
the social networks of the participants. further- mobility on people’s attitude and overall mind-
more, many europeans are now convinced set. We can only assume that all this has led to
that the exchange of knowledge, experiences, a raised level of tolerance and mutual accept-
and ideas between the Member states con- ance, at least among those who have already
tributes to mutual development. benefitted from studying, training, or working

93 % 93 % of former Erasmus students can easily
imagine living abroad in the future.
erasmus impact study, 2014

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