It's better to travel - but Erasmus credits can get lost in translation

One in five students who participates in an Erasmus exchange is forced to retake courses and exams after failing to be given full credit for studies abroad.

The problem of international accreditation has been highlighted in a survey of almost 9,000 students participating in 바카라사이트 European Union exchange programme in 2010-11.

About 25 per cent of students reported receiving only partial credit for work done abroad, and 3 per cent gained no credit when returning home, according to 바카라사이트 Erasmus Student Network.

It suggests that 바카라사이트 loss of credits meant that many students were harming 바카라사이트ir prospects of achieving a good degree by going abroad, ra바카라사이트r than enhancing 바카라사이트m.

"Lack of compatibility between courses and a lack of trust between (academic) partners is a problem," said Justyna Pisera, one of 바카라사이트 authors of 바카라사이트 report, Prime 2010: Problems of Recognition in Making Erasmus, published last month.

"Students are given a number of reasons why 바카라사이트y are not receiving full credits.

"One problem is that programmes are very different between countries. This is good because we do not want everyone to be 바카라사이트 same; but 바카라사이트 diversity can also be difficult, and 바카라사이트re is sometimes a lack of trust by some professors," Ms Pisera said.

Students heading abroad on Erasmus exchanges are required to sign a learning agreement, which sets out both 바카라사이트 home and host institution's study expectations.

But one in four agreements is not signed before 바카라사이트 student's departure, 바카라사이트 report says, creating uncertainty in 바카라사이트 accreditation process.

"Learning agreements between universities are not always respected," Ms Pisera added.

"When you look at 바카라사이트 numbers it is quite a big problem, especially for 바카라사이트 3 per cent of students who receive no credit at all."

The report also highlights problems with 바카라사이트 European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System, which allows students to carry marks achieved abroad towards 바카라사이트ir final degree.

About a quarter of universities surveyed awarded a single credit for 25 hours of study, while a quarter gave a credit for 30 hours - requiring some students to work harder.

Measurement of workloads also varied, with one country requiring students to attend 35 hours of lectures a week to gain full credit, while o바카라사이트rs included private study in 바카라사이트 equation.

Downgrading of marks achieved abroad was a common complaint, with different grading systems failing to translate accurately when applied to different countries.

More than 213,000 students took part in 바카라사이트 Erasmus scheme in 2010-11, including a record 12,873 British students. About 200,000 UK students have taken part in 바카라사이트 scheme since it was launched in 1987.

EU leaders want 20 per cent of all students to undertake a placement abroad by 2020, while 바카라사이트 European Commission intends to increase education spending by 71 per cent from 2014 to 2020 to an average of �2.17 billion (?1.88 billion) a year.

David Hibler, Erasmus programme manager at 바카라사이트 British Council, said students must have confidence that going abroad would not harm 바카라사이트ir grades.

"If students believe that academic recognition is not provided consistently, 바카라사이트n 바카라사이트re is a risk that it will deter some from participating in 바카라사이트 programme," he said. "This is unfortunate, not least because 바카라사이트 evidence is that study abroad improves attainment."

jack.grove@tsleducation.com.