National mobility scholarships: rationales, approaches and priorities

Example of Estonia

Brussels, 10 April 2014

Rait Toompere

Estonia – challenges and obstacles of small

country

Population – 1,29 million and decreasing

Number of HE students – 60 000 and decreasing

Number of foreign students – 2200 and increasing

Milestones of HE internationalisation

1998 • Estonia joined with Erasmus programme

2003 • Beginning of the first national scholarship programme Kristjan Jaak

2004 • First steps towards national strategy of HE internationalisation

2006 • Adaption of The Strategy for Estonian Higher Education Internationalisation 2006-2015

2007 • Adaption of Agreement on Good Practice in Internationalisation

2007 • Beginning of new period of structural funds 2007-2013

2008 • Beginning of the ESF Doctoral studies and Internationalisation Programme „DoRa“

2012 • First steps in preparation of new period of structural funds 2014-2020

2014 • Compilation of The Strategy for Estonian Higher Education Internationalisation 2015-2020

As a small country it is crucial for Estonia to find its strategic niche in order to make the country attractive as a place for study and research.

Improving the efficiency and quality of doctoral studies and increasing the number of specialist holding PhDs in all sectors of the economy are an important prerequisite for building a knowledge-based society.

Strategy for the internationalisation of HE over the years 2006–2015 addresses activities in three areas:

Creation of a supporting legal environment: • quality and quality assurance • the simplification of recognition in the context of increased mobility • the offering of joint curricula and the recognition of degrees • the right to apply for study allowances and study loans while studying at a foreign

university • the provision of transnational higher education • immigration policy

The internationalisation of teaching: • student mobility • international know-how • internationalisation of study programmes

The support system for internationalisation:

• institutional environment • notification and exchange of information

I

II

III

CHAPTER II – The internationalisation of teaching Subchapter - Student mobility

Subtheme Target for 2015

The opportunity to participate in student

exchanges

At least 4-5% of all Estonian students (an estimated 2000 individuals) should participate

in student exchanges annually.

International students enrolled in full-

time study

2000 non-resident foreigners should be enrolled in full-time study at various institutions

of higher education in Estonia, including those studying under joint curricula.

Mobility of doctoral students

- The percentage of foreign nationals among the doctoral graduates to have defended

their theses in Estonia should be 10% .

- Each doctoral graduate to have defended his/her thesis at an Estonian university

will have spent at least one semester studying abroad.

Strategy for the internationalisation of HE 2006–2015

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

0

10000

20000

30000

40000

50000

60000

70000

80000

06/07 07/08 08/09 09/10 10/11 11/12 12/13 13/14 target level2015

prognosis2020

Students in Estonian HE institutions

total number of students number of foreign students

0.00

0.20

0.40

0.60

0.80

1.00

1.20

1.40

1.60

1.80

2.00

2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

Mill

ion

s (E

UR

)

Budget for outgoing mobility

Estonian government funds European Social Fund

0%

2%

4%

6%

8%

10%

12%

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

06/07 07/08 08/09 09/10 10/11 11/12 12/13 13/14 target level2015

Number of PhD students in Estonia

total number of PhD students percentage of foreigners among PhD students

636

282 188

3526

693

study visits up to 21 days exchange studies degree studies

funded by national grants funded by ESF grants

Funded applications by national grants and ESF over the years 2008-2013)

bachelor 0.10%

master 14.26%

PhD 66.85%

academic staff 18.79%

Study visits up to 21 days

master 42.48%

PhD 57.52%

Exchange studies

bachelor 21.78%

master 42.08%

PhD 36.14%

Degree studies

Funded applications by target groups

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

bachelor master PhD academicstaff

master PhD bachelor master PhD

study visits up to 21 days exchange studies degree studies

Grant holders by gender (2008-2013)

M

F

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

110

Top target countries of exchange students (2008-2013)

0

250

500

750

1000

1250

1500

1750

2000

2250

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

Foreign degree students in HE institutions

enrolled admissions

Home countries of enrolled foreign students*

* More than 5 students studying in Estonia

Top 20

country students country students country students country students

Finland 49,46% China 2,91% Germany 1,43% Italy 0,81%

Russia 8,39% Ukraine 2,56% Lithuania 1,21% UK 0,72%

Latvia 4,89% India 1,84% Spain 0,85% Pakistan 0,58%

Turkey 3,68% USA 1,79% Belarus 0,85% The Republic of Korea 0,54%

Georgia 3,63% Nigeria 1,57% Iran 0,81% Sweden 0,49%

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