Impact of the ERASMUS+ Exchange Programme on students academic success and 21st century skills: A Mixed-Methods Research in Aviation Management field

This study aims to examine the impact of the Erasmus+ Exchange Programme on the academic success and 21st century skills of students. The study used a mixed-methods approach that combines quantitative and qualitative data collection methods. In the qualitative section, which forms the majority of the study, a phenomenological design and interview technique was used to investigate the 21st century skills possessed by aviation management students participating in the Erasmus+ program through a deductive thematic analysis. A document analysis was also conducted to compare the students academic performance before and after participating in the program. In the quantitative section, the 21st Century Learner Skill Usage Scale was applied to the study group, and analyses were conducted considering gender, year of participation, and country of participation. The results of the analyses indicate that skill usage is above average in all dimensions. The research findings indicate that the Erasmus+ Programme positively impacts the 21st century skills of aviation students. According to the participants views, the study suggests that the Erasmus+ Student Exchange Programme enhances various skills, especially innovation, digital literacy, problem-solving, and collaboration skills. This study provides an important resource for researchers, educational institutions, and policymakers seeking to understand the impact of similar exchange programs on academic and professional development.