EUROSTUDENT Talks
The EUROSTUDENT Talks webinar series presents speakers on various EUROSTUDENT-related issues, such as project results, dissemination activities, and policy-relevant topics.
Home or away? Insights into international student mobility from Sweden and EUROSTUDENT 8
Swedish data show that increased efforts for internationalisation in higher education have not affected students' interest in studying and internships abroad. How interested are students in Sweden in international mobility? What barriers exist to going abroad? At the EUROSTUDENT Talks on May 15, Madelen Charysczak from the The Swedish Council for Higher Education (UHR) introduced a report on this topic based on EUROSTUDENT 8 data. In addition, Eva Vögtle from DZHW contrasted and complemented the Swedish results with the EUROSTUDENT 8 international comparative results on mobility. We also discussed shortly the benefits of international student mobility as perceived by employers.
What is left of digitally enhanced learning and teaching post-Covid?
At the EUROSTUDENT Talks on the 9th of April 2025, our focus was on digitalisation of teaching and learning. We welcomed Michael Gaebel from the European University Association (EUA) who talked about the DIGI-HE project, introduced selected results from the survey, and discussed the role of peer-learning for transformational institutional change in digitalisation and digitally enhanced internationalisation. In addition, during our discussion we tried to find out what is left of digitally enhanced learning and teaching post-Covid and what were the challenges and barriers. Please see also the website of the DIGI-HE project at https://www.eua.eu/our-work/projects/eu-funded-projects/digi-he.html for more information.
Writing is so overrated. A reflection on how GenAI challenges writing assignments.
The rise of Generative AI challenges the traditional role of writing assignments in higher education, prompting a re-evaluation of their effectiveness in developing academic competences and skills. Higher education needs a reflection on whether – and if so, how – these assignments can be redesigned to guarantee their alignment with learning outcomes for tomorrow's society. At the EUROSTUDENT Talks on the 12th of March, Bertel De Groote (Ghent University & University of Liège) encouraged to reflect on the paradigm shift Generative AI will cause for higher education. To add a student voice to the discussion, Urszula Lis from ESU joined us, too.
Intersecting barriers: The relationship between individual and institutional characteristics and mobility abroad
How do personal and institutional factors shape student opportunities to study abroad? At the EUROSTUDENT Talks on February 13th, we heard about a study conducted by the EHESO consortium and the EUROSTUDENT team which examined the relationship between student demographics, institutional factors, and participation in temporary international mobility programmes. Dr. Inga Popovaite (PPMI | Part of the Verian Group) discussed how individual and institutional characteristics affect student mobility. The talk shed light on the intersection of these characteristics that create additional barriers to equal opportunities in short term international mobility. The PowerPoint presentation and the recording of the talk will be published here, once the underlying study itself is available.
New EHEA framework for the Social Dimension – what does it tell us and where are we heading?
Collecting and analysing comparable data on the social dimension of European higher education has always been the core of the EUROSTUDENT project. Ninoslav ¦ćukanec Schmidt (founder and executive director of the Institute for the Development of Education in Croatia, former co-chair of the BFUG Working Group on Social Dimension) and Horia Onița (head of the EHEA Secretariat, former co-chair of the BFUG Working Group on Social Dimension) have digged deeper into the topic of the Social Dimension and provided us with an overview of the ‘Indicators and Descriptors for the Principles of the Social Dimension’, a toolbox approach for countries, which was endorsed at the EHEA Ministerial Conference in May 2024. Our guests reflected upon the framework and how it can help countries to support their HE policies while keeping the social dimension in mind.
Looking Back and Ahead: Students’ Current Challenges and Expectations for 2025
It has become already a tradition that the last EUROSTUDENT Talks of the year gives us the chance to get a valuable insight into student life. In the discussion three members of student unions from different countries shared their thoughts and opinions about the major challenges that students are currently facing, but also what are their expectations for the year 2025. EUROSTUDENT is happy to have welcomed a very diverse and international group of speakers: Alens Aleksandrs Čerņa from Latvia (LSA), Daniel Aragão from Portugal (FAIRe), and Franziska Knogler from Austria (ÖH).
Financial aid for students – a bridge to university access and a wand for academic success?
This EUROSTUDENT Talks focused on student funding, more precisely on grants and financial aid. Based on a study by IRES Piemonte, Federica Laudisa and Samuele Poy showed us how sometimes students fail to apply for financial aid, despite being eligible, while the availability of grants can really make the difference in choosing whether to enrol in university or not. In addition, Loris Vergolini (University of Bologna & The Research Institute for the Evaluation of Public Policies) dug into the role of financial aid in promoting academic success across Europe by disentangling the distinct effects of grants and loans leveraging the policy frameworks of selected European countries where both forms of aid are offered.
Time use of Hungarian university students : Results from EUROSTUDENT 8
How students allocate their available time is crucial to the success of their studies. Attending lectures, seminars, and practical courses, preparing for exams, taking them, and combining paid work with studies all determine the intensity of their academic experience. Based on EUROSTUDENT 8 data, Marcell Kiss from The Educational Authority of Hungary took a closer look at the discrepancies in time management among full-time and part-time students. More specifically, when and how much time students devote to study-related activities and paid work, and how these factors impact the intensity of their workloads. Lastly, it was examined whether any differences are detectable in their preferences for online and digital study services.
How are students faring? Well-being, mental health, and the role of financial stress in (post-Covid) European Higher Education
EUROSTUDENT 8 was the first project round with a specific module on mental health and well-being. We presented some intriguing results and discussed this topic at the EUROSTUDENT Talks on the 19th of September. How do students rate their general health and overall degree of happiness? To what extent do students experience mental health problems? What type of mental health challenges occur most frequently? Are students aware of counselling options and do they perceive it useful? Ardita Muja and Joris Cuppen from ResearchNed shed light on these and some other questions from an international comparative perspective. In addition, Mikael Raihhelgauz from think tank Praxis showed us how financial stress impacts student mental health.
How discrimination reveals itself in higher education? International comparative view and insight into the Swedish situation
At the EUROSTUDENT Talks on the 13th of June, we turned our eyes to discrimination in the context of higher education. How prevalent are discrimination experiences among students and how do they vary across countries? Who are students discriminated by? Based on which criteria do students feel discriminated? Cordelia Menz from the Institute for Advanced Studies (IHS), Vienna, shed light on these and some other questions from an international comparative perspective. In addition, we took a look at Sweden to discuss the same issues at country level. Erica Finnerman, Jari Rusanen, and Sofia Scholler from the Swedish Council for Higher Education told us about discrimination and national minorities in the Swedish context and introduced the topics of mid-life students and mental health.
From campus to cloud? Understanding digital transformation and COVID-19's impact on students
It is time to start revealing EUROSTUDENT 8 international results! We got the ball rolling with the Topical module reports and the first ones were introduced already at the EUROSTUDENT Talks on the 8th of May. How are countries doing when it comes to digitalisation of teaching, learning, and student life? How did COVID-19 pandemic impact students in European higher education? Hendrik Schirmer from the German Centre for Higher Education Research and Science Studies (DZHW) and Elisabeth Kendrali and Sandra Haugas from the Think Tank Praxis introduced these two rather intertwined topics to us.
Refugees in German Higher Education – from Study Preparation to Study Programs
In view of the relatively low participation of refugees in tertiary education, debates about targeted support services have increased significantly in recent years. Based on the survey and qualitative interview data, Jana Berg and Michael Grüttner from The German Centre for Higher Education Research and Science Studies (DZHW) discussed factors of successful study preparation and the situation of refugees studying at German universities. They looked at individual, institutional, and structural factors that shape the experiences of refugees in preparing for and studying at university.
Combining studies and paid work: Norwegian results from EUROSTUDENT 8
Paid work alongside studies gives students important experience on the labour market and provides an additional income source. In Norway, it is quite common for students to work alongside their studies, but analyses based on EUROSTUDENT VI data indicate that there is a trade-off between time spent on paid work and time spent on study-related activities. At the EUROSTUDENT Talks, Anna-Lena Keute from Statistics Norway gave an overview of the situation of working students in Norway in 2022. How much time do different groups of students in Norway spent on study-related activities and paid work? And how many hours can Norwegian students work without spending less time on their studies compared to non-working students? What is the optimal balance between paid work and time spent on studies?
Main results and challenges arising from EUROSTUDENT 8 in the Czech Republic
Lucie Hündlová and Michaela ¦mídová, both from the Centre for Higher Education Studies (CHES) in Prague, introduced us to the main findings of the 8th round of the EUROSTUDENT survey in the Czech Republic. Firstly, the focus was on the trends that have remained more or less stable over time (i.e., entry to study, low level of public support, high proportion of working students). Secondly, Lucie and Michaela presented to us trends which, on the contrary, have undergone shifts and changes compared to the last round (i.e., higher proportion of students with financial and health problems). The results of the survey were discussed in the context of the current situation in higher education policy. Among other things, the presentation touched on several methodological and other challenges that were encountered during the preparation, implementation, and communication of the results.
Students' employment experience and their financial conditions in Georgia
At this webinar, you got an insight into the data on students’ employment experiences and their financial conditions in Georgia. Based on fresh results from the EUROSTUDENT 8 survey, Ana Papiashvili from the Institute of Social Studies and Analysis delved into students' employment experiences during the current semester, emphasizing the significance they attribute to having paid employment and the needs it helps fulfil. Considering the challenge of aligning employment with their chosen profession, the presentation explored how closely students' work aligns with the content of their study program. Additionally, the presentation provided insights into students' financial situation, highlighting the contributions of various social groups to their incomes and expenses. It touched upon broader financial concerns, including savings and other financial issues. In essence, the presentation comprehensively addressed students' employment experiences and their present financial circumstances, encompassing both personal resources and external financial support.
Looking back and ahead: Students’ current challenges and expectations for 2024
It has become almost a tradition that the last EUROSTUDENT Talks of the year gives us the chance to get a valuable insight into student life. And of course, we did it this year, too! In the discussion, three members of student unions from different countries shared their thoughts and opinions about the major challenges that students are currently facing, but also about their expectations for the year 2024. EUROSTUDENT was happy to welcome a very diverse and international group of speakers: Lisa Schivalocchi from Italy (UdU), Kelda McManus from Ireland (USI), and Amanda Ter¨ar from Slovenia (¦OS).
Small and cosy? Study conditions in Luxembourg through the lens of data visualisation
As European societies become more diverse, so does the student population at European higher education institutions. At the same time, the student population in some countries has not been studied as extensively as in others. One of these countries is Luxembourg, which only established its first national university in 2003. In order to deepen the understanding of the Luxembourg student context, Emilia Kmiotek-Meier from the University of Cologne presented her work on Luxembourgish students & data visualisation at the EUROSTUDENT Talks. First, she focussed on study conditions and explored whether academic-related aspects are perceived in the same way by students from different migrant backgrounds, how they manoeuvre through the higher education context, how they cope and how they are supported. The second theme was data visualisation. How to visualize research results and patterns discovered in the data?
Students’ mental health: students thriving or simply surviving?
Every year, the 10th of October is observed as World Mental Health Day. The aim of the day is to raise awareness of mental health issues and to mobilize efforts in support of mental health. Thus, this time, on the 19th of October, the EUROSTUDENT Talks was dedicated to the topic of mental health, too. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted students' mental health, but what is the situation today? Are students thriving and enjoying the best years of their lives? Emily MacPherson from the European Students' Union discussed the latest findings about students’ mental health across Europe.
Determinants of student mobility in light of EUROSTUDENT and national statistics. Deriving policy measures that foster student mobility?
International mobility of Finnish HE students has been steadily declining already before the COVID-19 pandemic since 2010. Finland is among the countries that produces an up-to-date comparable register based statistical data on student mobility by field of study, IHE and key student characteristics and this data can be accessed via an online statistical database (Vipunen). The average student mobility is found highest among students in business and social sciences, while being lowest in the fields of education and medicine. At the EUROSTUDENT Talks on 21 September, Juhani Saari from Statistics Finland suggested using the EUROSTUDENT data in determining the underlying motivational determinants that differentiate students within different fields of study. Are the field specific differences better explained through perceived benefits of mobility or differences in students’ social conditions? The findings may help determine new policy measures to boost student mobility of currently underrepresented groups.
The impact of COVID-19 on students’ well-being and approaches to learning in Denmark. Some thrive, while others don’t.
Since the outbreak of COVID-19, students’ well-being and learning have become a concern. The lockdown during the pandemic caused a rapid shift from class-based to online teaching. The new online standards might be beneficial for some student groups, while others might have suffered from learning loss and mental health issues. At EUROSTUDENT Talks on 15 June, Amanda Weber from The Danish Agency for Higher Education and Science introduced some findings of the research conducted with David Vestergaard Eriksen. They investigated how COVID-19 restrictions affect students’ well-being and approaches to learning differently. The data consists of 57,744 answers from The Danish Student Survey, collected in autumn 2020.
It’s not the same to live in a house as to a small hall of residence: housing conditions, psychological distress and academic success of students in France during the first COVID-19 lockdown
Alexis Alamel from Sciences Po Rennes, Odile Ferry from French Observatory of Student Life and Elise Tenret from Paris Dauphine University introduced their research which explored the effects of the first COVID-19 lockdown on French students' housing situation, the relationship between housing and psychological distress and the relationship between housing and students’ academic performance and orientation. Their analysis is based on the 5,994 responses of students to two quantitative national surveys and 33 semi-structured interviews conducted amongst students living in university halls of residence in the North of France in spring 2020.
EUROSTUDENT microdata: How to use it and what you can do with it
Sylvia Mandl from the Institute for Advanced Studies (IHS), Austria, and Joris Cuppen from ResearchNed, The Netherlands, introduced the brand new EUROSTUDENT VII Scientific Use File 3.0, its contents, and explained where and how to apply for it. Furthermore, they presented inspiring examples from their own research (international student mobility, social integration of students) on the use of the microdata. Finally, they gave an outlook on the future SUF from the current eighth project round.
The student support system in mediating work-related dropout: a comparative analysis of four worlds of student funding
In this session, Triin Lauri, Assistant Professor at Tallinn University, and Kaire Põder, Professor at Estonian Business School, presented their research that focussed on the determinants of student drop-out in different European countries. By using four most extreme cases of student funding - Estonia, Finland, Lithuania, and the Netherlands - they explained how the degree to which public financial student support buffers social disadvantages in mitigating student dropout varies across countries depending on how the systems of higher education, tuition fees and subsidies are organized.
Students‘ well-being, discrimination, digitalisation and effects of the pandemic. Insights from Estonia based on EUROSTUDENT 8.
At this webinar, the audience got an exclusive first look into the data on students' experiences and their situation in Estonia in 2022. Sandra Haugas and Elisabeth Kendrali from the think tank Praxis talked about fresh results from the EUROSTUDENT 8 survey, focusing on the four new themes: mental health and well-being, digitalisation, the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, and discrimination experiences. The webinar was exceptionally not recorded as it was an exclusive sneak peek at some EUROSTUDENT 8 results from Estonia that were only preliminary.
Working while studying – Trends, comparisons and context in the Czech Republic
At the EUROSTUDENT Talks on 26 January 2023, Lucie Hündlová and Michaela ¦mídová, both from Centre for Higher Education Studies (CHES) in Prague compared the results from EUROSTUDENT 8 (data collection in spring 2022) with the previous period. What does the “working-while-studying” phenomenon looks like now in the Czech Republic? Have pandemics and economic problems in society (e.g., inflation, rising energy prices) affected students' work patterns, activities and strategies? Have the reasons that lead students to work during their full-time studies changed significantly?
Looking Back and Ahead: Students' Current Challenges and Expectations for 2023
This year's last EUROSTUDENT Talks gives us the chance to get a valuable insight into student life. In the discussion four members of student unions from different countries share their thoughts and opinions about the major challenges that students are currently facing, but also what are their expectations for the year 2023. EUROSTUDENT is happy to welcome a very diverse and international group of speakers: Bjørn Olav Østeby from Norway (NSO), Bruna Bandula from Croatia (CSC), Carlotta Eklöh from Germany (FZS), and Katariina Järve from Estonia (EÜL).
Students’ Financial Situation and Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Switzerland
How did the COVID-19 pandemic affect students’ financial situation and mental health in Switzerland in 2020? At EUROSTUDENT Talks on the 24th of November, we had a look at national-level results on students´ financial difficulties and mental health problems during the pandemic. Drawing on a specific questionnaire module integrated in the Swiss Survey of higher education graduates, the results show for the first time general trends and striking differences across student groups. Discover how the situation looks like in Switzerland at the webinar with Yassin Boughaba from the Swiss Federal Statistical Office (FSO).
Student funding by different welfare state principles – an empirical system comparison
Within the framework of social policy, there are three basic principles that can be used to design a social security system: 1) the welfare principle, 2) the supply principle and 3) the insurance principle. These principles can also be used to design a public student support system. But what results do countries actually achieve when they follow one of these principles in public student funding? Are there any differences, perhaps even important ones? Which system is better for students or society, when measured by certain characteristics?
EUROSTUDENT 8 results for the Netherlands: what do the Topical Modules show us?
On the 22nd of September, EUROSTUDENT Talks offered a chance to take a look at the results for the EUROSTUDENT 8 Topical Modules from the Netherlands. Ardita Muja and Joris Cuppen from ResearchNed covered in their presentation all the very intriguing and topical issues: a) impact of COVID-19; b) digitalization of teaching, learning and student life; c) students’ discrimination experiences, and d) students’ mental health and well-being. The webinar was exceptionally not recorded as it was an exclusive sneak peek at some EUROSTUDENT 8 results from the Netherlands that were only preliminary.
The Relationship Between Student Funding Policy and Student Welfare
Student funding policies – that is arrangements regarding scholarships, student loans, tax benefits, family allowances, and tuition fees – vary greatly across Europe. Yet, very little is known about their actual impact on students’ economic well-being and structure of their income. Do students in countries with more generous support have higher total incomes? Do they receive less money from parents or earn less on the labour market? On the aggregate level, there is certainly a concern about the effectiveness of funding policies in reducing student economic hardship. At next EUROSTUDENT Talks, Krzysztof Czarnecki - assistant professor at the Poznań University of Economics and Business - will examine how different student funding policies in Europe are related to: 1) student welfare mix, that is the share of income coming from parents, state, and labour, and 2) students' objective and subjective economic well-being. The analysis is based on the Student Support and Fees Dataset (2005-2015) and the EUROSTUDENT survey data.
International Student Mobility – How are We Doing After the Pandemic and What’s the Way Forward?
We know from the EUROSTUDENT VII data that most students (a cross-country average of 64%) who have been temporarily enrolled abroad organised the mobility period via the Erasmus(+) programme. In EUROSTUDENT Talks we are happy to welcome Juan Rayón González, the president of Erasmus Student Network, to discuss how has the pandemic affected international student mobility and what are the changes and challenges ahead.
Making previous learning count - flexible pathways into and within higher education
Students who enter higher education later and use alternative qualifications are often older, have children and are also more likely to be first-generation students. Whereas in most EHEA countries, alternative access students make up less than 10% of the student population, the share is considerably higher in some countries. At our next EUROSTUDENT Talks webinar, we will examine the role of higher education institutions in facilitating the entry of non-traditional student groups through alternative access routes. Join us to learn about good practices of higher education institutions in Malta and Estonia.
How WEIRD are transnationally mobile students?
Are there any differences between degree and credit mobility? What determines mobility patterns in a global perspective compared to the European perspective? Do differences also exist between genders when looking at student' mobility patterns from a global perspective? Is there a connection between countries’ degree of academic freedom and their attractiveness as study destination? If you are interested in discussing these questions, come and join the next EUROSTUDENT Talks where we are welcoming Eva Maria Vögtle, a researcher from DZHW, Germany. Eva Maria will talk about some of her publications in the field of international student mobility in comparative manner, also contrasting them to EUROSTUDENT findings.
MAKING IT HAPPEN: THROUGH DATA TOWARDS DIVERSITY, INCLUSIVENESS AND EQUALITY IN HE
As in January a new European strategy for universities was published, next EUROSTUDENT Talks will focus on this freshly launched material and discuss how we could, using data smartly, move towards diversity, inclusiveness and equity in our HE systems. We are happy to welcome Lucie Trojanová from the European Commission, who will introduce the ideas of this strategy from the EU perspective. Kaisu Piiroinen and Berto Bosscha from two EUROSTUDENT countries, Finland and the Netherlands, will join the discussion to reflect on the strategy and how they think EUROSTUDENT data help countries to achieve the goal of inclusive HE.
Students With Impairments in Higher Education - Supported Enough or Rather Left Out?
According to the EUROSTUDENT data, on average, a quarter of students with impairments (SWI) often feel out of place in higher education – this figure is 10 percentage points higher than among students without an impairment. How satisfied are SWI with their experiences in the academic environment? Are they supported enough? What could be done in higher education institutions (both by the staff and fellow students) and by policy-makers to better facilitate both academic and social integration of SWI? Come and join EUROSTUDENT Talks webinar on the 27th of January at 11CET to find out more about this topic! We are happy to welcome Jakob Rosin, a radio journalist, leader of Estonian Blind Union and an alumnus of Tallinn University, who will share his own experience in higher education and reflect the subject in broader, policy sense as well.
Looking Back and Ahead: Students’ Current Challenges and Expectations for 2022
This year's last EUROSTUDENT Talks webinar gives us the chance to get a valuable insight into student life. In the discussion four members of student unions from different countries will share their thoughts and opinions about the major challenges that students are currently facing, but also what are their expectations for the year 2022. EUROSTUDENT is happy to welcome a very diverse and international group of speakers: Ángel Canal from Spain (CREUP), Damir Solak from Czech Republic (SK RV¦), Horia Onita from Romania (ANOSR), and Jacob Blasius from Denmark (DSF). Come and join us at a pre-Christmas webinar in Zoom! (no pre-registration required)
Academic Satisfaction of International Students at Irish Higher Education Institutions
EUROSTUDENT data has important use for higher education policy makers at national and European level, and also informs and enables research into students' lives in Europe. But how are researchers using EUROSTUDENT data? Join this webinar where Mairéad Finn (Trinity College Dublin) and Georgiana Mihut (University of Warwick) talk about their academic article which sought to understand what explains higher levels of academic satisfaction among international students, including concepts of cultural distance and marketization. While their analyses was situated in the Republic of Ireland, it has implications for other European countries.
Internships: The Bridge from the World of Education to the World of Work
For the first time in EUROSTUDENT, more detailed information has been collected regarding internships during studying in higher education. How common is following an internship in EUROSTUDENT countries? How well do internships prepare students for the labour market? Come and dive deeper into this topic at EUROSTUDENT Talks webinar taking place on the 28th of October with Froukje Wartenbergh-Cras!
Interactive National Profiles: How does the new tool aid purpos-driven use of EUROSTUDENT data?
Kaur Saarepuu, a data visualization specialist who brings together UX design, programming and data analysis, introduces EUROSTUDENT Interactive National Profiles at the EUROSTUDENT Talks webinar.
EUROSTUDENT Talks - The Social and Economic Conditions of Students in Europe - Report and Database
The report “Social and Economic Conditions of Student Life in Europe. EUROSTUDENT VII 2018-2021. Synopsis of Indicators “ and the new EUROSTUDENT database will be presented at a webinar next Thursday, 11 a.m. CEST – access the Zoom link by clicking on the picture below. You are invited to join this presentation, and are also very welcome to forward it – the link is open. The presentations will focus on the main results of the EUROSTUDENT report and introduce the features of the new database. Upcoming monthly webinars in the new “EUROSTUDENT Talks” format will highlight different outputs of the EUROSTUDENT VII project round – more information to come!