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Student Exchange
by Mila Bertolli
Translated by Manja Maksimovic
When looking for a job, experience has proven to be the key
comparative advantage, especially if fresh out of university
and with no or little practical experience during the years
of study. This is when another sort of experience comes in handy:
that acquired in one’s lifetime. Studying in another country
is an example of how to gain that kind of experience: students’
horizons broaden, they get acquainted with other cultures and
make new friendships. This contributes greatly to personal development,
stands out as a bonus when applying for a job, and benefits
not only the individuals but their homeland as well.
Slovenia is no exception. Due to the increasing mobility of
foreign students to Slovenia and Slovene students abroad, Slovenia
is turning into a true European state especially in the area
of education.
Foreign Students in Slovenia – Slovene Students Abroad
Slovenia can be included among the countries where the study
abroad and the student exchange programmes are quite popular
and well organized. There is a wide variety of options; there
is a student exchange programme at almost every academy, faculty
and college in Slovenia. The exchange is based on bilateral
agreements between the universities and fulfilled conditions
on the part of the student. International offices at universities
offer students complete information so that they can make a
decision to perform part of their studies abroad. The mobility
of students is not only a task of universities, however, as
there is a variety of organisations which make student networking
a priority.
CMEPIUS
One of the largest organisations of its kind is the Centre
of the Republic of Slovenia for Mobility and European Educational
and Training Programs (CMEPIUS). One of its major tasks is the
coordination of the European Community education and training
programmes such as Leonardo da Vinci and Socrates with the subsections.
They are gradually taking on the arrangement of other sorts
of mobility, defined by bilateral and multilateral programmes,
such as the activities which they perform as the national agency
for bilateral and other exchanges of international scholarships.
CMEPIUS also enables the acquisition of scholarships by Slovenes
living in bordering counties and by Slovene descendants around
the world. Information on the study and scholarship requirements
for the descendants of Slovene emigrants and candidates from
the bordering countries is available at the www.cmepius.si website.
Another programme called CEEPUS – Central European Exchange
Program for University Studies is active within CMEPIUS with
the aim of initiating and encouraging mobility of students and
professors in Central Europe by making good use of friendly
connections.
SOCRATES/ERASMUS
The programme with which students are most familiar is SOCRATES.
This is a European Union programme aimed at the promotion of
European cooperation. Its subsection ERASMUS gives students
financial support so that they are able to perform part of their
studies at an institution in an EU member state. These programmes
have arisen from a desire that the EU nations get to know each
other, work well together and one day form a solid union. Thanks
to the bilateral agreements between Slovene and foreign universities,
the study which a student carries out at a foreign university
gets full recognition in Slovenia. The ERASMUS office is part
of the International Office at the Student Organisation of the
University of Ljubljana. Detailed information on the SOCRATES
programme is available via CMEPIUS (www.cmepius.si), Centre
of the Republic of Slovenia for Vocational Education and Training
(www.cpi.si), and Erasmus Student Network (www.esn.org) websites.
Student Organisation of the University of Ljubljana (ŠOU)
The International Office at ŠOU carries out a special
networking programme for the youth from the neighbouring countries.
The "Neighbouring Slovenes" project is run by interconnecting
youth societies and clubs from the neighbouring countries, compiling
a data base of links, organising visits of emigrant students
from the USA and Canada, and organising meetings of emigrant
descendants in Slovenia. Although the project is aimed at students,
nonschool-going young Slovene descendants living abroad are
also welcome to take part in the activities. The selection of
the participants for the meetings is usually the task of Slovene
emigrant organisations in the USA and Canada. More information
is available at www.sou-lj.si
Ad futura
The foundation Ad futura is another agency which promotes international
cooperation and the mobility of students and researchers in
Slovenia. Through calls for applications, it offers scholarships
and co-finances the studies and scientific research of both
Slovenes abroad and foreigners in Slovenia. It also co-finances
the return of Slovene researchers who have spent several years
working abroad. Apart from co-financing the studies, Ad futura
also organises conventions for Slovene students abroad and conferences
for foreign students and organisations. More on its mobility
programme can be found at www.ad-futura.si.
Crediting
The criteria for credit evaluation of the study programmes
based upon the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) came into
force in Slovenia this autumn. This system enhances the transparency
and comparability of the systems and study programmes, as well
as enables mobility of students between universities in Slovenia
and abroad. Credit points are the units by which the work done
by the students is evaluated. The criteria by which quality
control of the universities and their study programmes will
be guaranteed have also come into force. This gives assurance
that the merit system by which the students’ work abroad
will subsequently be graded and recognised by their home university
is transparent.
A great variety of organisations in Slovenia, which are active
in the field of student exchange, hints at the fact that the
mobility of knowledge, teaching and research is moving in the
right direction. If only Slovene universities would lend a keener
ear to the increasing interest of foreign students in studying
in Slovenia and organise more classes in the English language.
Foreign exchange students have one option left, though: they
can always enrol in a Slovene learning course.
(Content abstracted from "Slovenija.svet December 2004"
published by
Slovenska
izseljenska matica.)
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