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When it comes to guidance and information, HEIs do a great deal. However,
according to several student surveys, students feel that they do not get the infor-
mation and support they want for studying abroad. The opinions that many stu-
dents express, such as how student exchanges lengthen the period of studies or
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that an exchange does not fit into their programme, are probably based on a
lack of understanding about the academic value of exchanges and how they can
comprise an integrated part of a programme. Proactive guidance could help coun-
teract this.

Information, discussion and reflection about the programme and the opportu-
nities for exchange need to be brought up at an early stage of the programme to
clarify for the students how a student exchange can take place as a natural part
of the programme. Guidance can be provided by study guidance counsellors and
international coordinators, but lecturers and course and programme co-ordina-
tors can play an important role in guiding the student. This is absolutely applica-
ble regarding the academic value of a student exchange.

Experience from Finland shows the effectiveness of using recurring, scheduled
guidance, helped by multiple functions that are responsible for guidance at the
HEI. Advisory services and guidance can be conducted individually or in a group.
At these meetings, plans for reflection and study planning (see below) can be
produced or revised and possible student exchanges discussed.

Figure 3. Proposed guidance chain

Student surveys as a basis for guidance
A student survey can be appended to admission notifications for first-year stu-
dents. This could contain questions about their educational background, language
skills, motivation, style of learning, plans for and aims with their studies, interest
in studying or going on a placement abroad, et cetera (see appendices 2, 10 & 11).

20 E.g. UHR, Cimo, SIU, Living and learning – Exchange studies abroad, 2013 and Hussein,
Yasmin & Mörck, Hanna: Många vill – få kommer till skott, Varför studerar inte fler
utomlands?, Uppsala studentkår, 2013.

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