The opinions of the higher education students and academic staff about the erasmus+ program(Mus Alparslan University sample)

The aim of this study is to reveal the opinions of the higher education students and academic staff about the Erasmus Program, which is one of the European Union education programs. The reasons of participation of students and instructors in these programs, their preparations before joining the program, the problems they experienced during the program, and the benefits they achieved and the differences and similarities between the education systems and cultures of our country and the host countries were tried to be determined. In addition, the effects of the program on foreign language development, student / staff support services offered at the institution visited, student-instructor communication at the institution visited, with whom and how the knowledge gained at the end of the program were shared and recommendations for those who want to benefit from the program were tried to be determined. Qualitative research method was used in the study. The data were obtained by semi-structured interviews with 10 students who participated in Erasmus student mobility and 10 instructors who participated in staff mobility between the years 2015 and 2018. Data were analyzed by content and descriptive analysis techniques. As a result of the research, it has been seen that the students mostly participated in the program in order to see new cultures and to develop their foreign languages, and as a result of the program, they achieved these aims. On the other hand, it is seen that the lecturers mainly participated in the program in order to examine the education system of a foreign country and to see the new cultures and they achieved these aims as a result of the program. Based on the results of the research, various suggestions were made for students and academicians who would like to benefit from the program. Key Words: Erasmus+, Higher Education, Exchange Programs