A qualitative study of the Turkish Erasmus exchange students' academic lives

The purpose of this research was to examine the Turkish Erasmus exchange students? academic lives and their views on the contributions of the program using qualitative method.The data of this research were collected with the use of a semi-structured questionnaire that was administered by direct interviews. During the development of the questionnaire, expert advice and opinion were obtained, pilot study were administered, and the final form of the questionnaire was given following advisory consultations.A total of 30 participants, 15 from state and 15 from private universities in İstanbul, and from 12 different disciplines, (Educational Sciences, Literature, Philosophy, Anthropology, Translation Studies, Law, International Relations, Management, Aquaculture, Engineering and Molecular Biology and Genetics) were invited to participate in a semi-structured interview. The student participants comprised a combination of 17 males and 13 females and aged 21-25 years.The duration of the interviews varied but the longest one lasted approximately 4 hours. The data obtained from these interviews were evaluated under 11 main headings such as; courses, academic staff, learning environments, language, assessment and evaluation, libraries, academic privileges, learning in a multicultural environment, problems experienced, students? views on the advantages and disadvantages of host and home institutions, students? reasons forparticipating in Erasmus and their views on the contributions of the programme and content analyses were made.Results of the research revealed that although the wish to gain academic experience in another country does not have the strongest influence on their decision to study abroad, students find studying abroad academically important and advantageous, and they put much emphasis on the social, personal, linguistic and cultural benefits they gain in addition to professional ones. It is understood that almost all students were affected by the learning environments and the student-centered teaching method they witnessed. According to these findings, the value and necessity of creating learning environments and teaching methods promoting student participation and an education system based on questioning, researching and practice gain importance. The results of this research also showed that students? initial aims such as getting the chance to see abroad, meeting new cultures or gaining personal benefits later changed direction by embracing academic and professional aims. Finally, in the light of these findings, suggestions for institutions, future exchange students and researchers were presented.Keywords: Higher Education, Study Abroad, Academic Life, Erasmus Programme