The International Student Mobility Charter
The number of students choosing to study abroad is increasing. At the same time, international students are affected by budget cuts, stricter visa rules and less hospitable attitudes around the world.
Context
As higher education institutions grapple with budget cuts, they are targeting their recruitment efforts at the higher fee paying international students. But do they always have the best interests of the student in mind? Protecting students during their time abroad should be a priority. The EAIE has recognised this need and taken action by leading a working group of international higher education associations that has developed a charter advocating international students’ rights: The International Student Mobility Charter.
Content
While respecting the integrity of higher education institutions, the Charter calls for institutions, regions and governments to facilitate mobility and seek to guarantee that international students feel protected when studying abroad. The Charter addresses the following issues:
- Equity of treatment
- Intercultural competences
- Integration of international students
- Opportunity to complete studies
- Portability and continuity of funding
- Student status
- Visas and formal requirements
- Information
- Student rights support
- Quality assurance
- Endorsement
At the EAIE Conference in Dublin in September 2012, a network of higher education associations officially adopted the charter:
- Erasmus Student Network (ESN)
- National Union of Students in the UK
- Association of International Education Administrators (AIEA)
- International Education Association of Australia (IEAA)
If your organisation would like to endorse the Charter, please e-mail the EAIE Office.