Interim Evaluation of Erasmus Mundus

Transcription

1 Interim Evaluation of Erasmus Mundus Appendix E June 2007 Centre for Strategy & Evaluation Services LLP

2 Interim Evaluation of Erasmus Mundus - SECTION PAGE 1. INTRODUCTION 1 2. SURVEY RESPONSES (STATISTICS) Action 1 - European higher education institutions Action 1 - European higher education institutions (rejected applicants) 2.3 Action 2 - students from third countries 2.4 Action 2 - scholars from third countries 2.5 Action 3 - students from EU countries 2.6 Action 3 - scholars from EU countries 2.7 Action 3 - Partnerships (HEIs from EU countries) Action 3 - Partnerships (HEIs from third countries) 3. ASSESSMENT OF OPEN-ENDED RESPONSES TO SURVEY 32 28

3 Interim Evaluation of Erasmus Mundus - 1. INTRODUCTION This appendix contains a complete list of statistical data for each of the surveys carried out by CSES in respect of the Interim Evaluation of the Erasmus Mundus programme. An important dimension of the evaluation involved carrying out survey work with programme beneficiaries. An overview of the survey structure across the different types of participants in the programme - higher education institutions, students and scholars - is provided below: Survey Questionnaire Response % of total targeted Action 1 co-ordinators/partners Action 1 non-selected applicants Action 2 students from third countries Action 2 scholars from third countries 84 NA Action 3 partner institutions Action 3 EU students 125 NA Action 3 EU scholars 27 NA Total 990 As can be seen, seven separate surveys were carried out, with a total of almost 1000 survey responses received. Separate surveys were conducted with higher education institutions, students and scholars. Additionally, surveys were differentiated depending on whether the beneficiary was from the EU or a third country, since there are key differences between the different Actions for these target groups such as the amount of financing, duration of mobility periods, etc. Given the wealth of useful findings that have emerged through the survey, the survey findings from each survey are set out in full in this paper, which has been designed as a standalone document. The survey findings are potentially of interest to a number of programme stakeholders, including policy makers and National Structures as well as those that have participated in Erasmus Mundus directly, including higher education institutions, students and scholars. In particular, those who have completed questionnaires may be interested in the views of other programme participants on a range of key issues. 1

4 Interim Evaluation of Erasmus Mundus - 2. SURVEY RESPONSES (STATISTICS) Action 1 - European higher education institutions Higher education institutions participating in a consortium involved in delivering Erasmus Mundus Masters Courses were asked various questions concerning their views on the effectiveness of Action 1 and their experiences of participating in the programme. The statistical results are set out in full below (the most interesting responses have been analysed in detail in the main evaluation report): Is your institution a co-ordinating institution or a partner institution? Co-ordinating Institution Partner Institution Total In which academic year did you first receive funding to run an EM Masters Course? Academic Year No. % 2004/ / / Total How did you first become aware of the Erasmus Mundus programme? Please mark all that apply Website At a conference or exhibition Recommendation from an academic institution National contact point Personal recommendation Other advertisement

5 Interim Evaluation of Erasmus Mundus - What were the main factors that Quite Small Not influenced your decision to apply to Important important importance important participate in Action 1? No. % No. % No. % No. % Enhance course quality through joint working with other European universities Enhance teaching and learning practice within the EM course - through the involvement of students from other EU countries and third countries Increase staff development opportunities through transnational co-operation Enhance the international profile of your institution Attract more international students to this course Attract more international students to other courses in your institution Association with the brand image of Erasmus Mundus Develop a wider co-operation with higher education institutions outside Europe (through eventual participation in Action 3) Attract more funds to your institution through additional tuition fees In the process of preparing for participation in Erasmus Mundus Action 1, how easy or difficult did you find each Very easy Quite easy Quite difficult Very difficult of the following elements No. % No. % No. % No. % Putting together a consortium to participate in Erasmus Mundus? Obtaining funding for an Erasmus Mundus course? Completing the application form? Ensuring integration of the consortium and the course content? Developing appropriate course content for an Erasmus Mundus course? Identifying academic staff with appropriate skills (foreign language skills, other skills) to deliver course content? Degree recognition by partners and/or competent authorities? Setting a common tuition fee? Setting joint criteria for selection and examination?

6 Interim Evaluation of Erasmus Mundus - Please tell us about the extent of involvement of the National Contact Substantial Quite a lot Some Small Point in the process No. % No. % No. % No. % In making the application After the application In your opinion, is Erasmus Mundus Action 1 relevant to the needs of higher education institutions? Relevancy No. % Highly relevant Quite relevant Somewhat relevant Not relevant at all Total In your opinion, does Erasmus Mundus Action 1 add value to higher education institutions? A lot Quite a lot A little No value at all Total With regard to programme management, how well has the programme been managed by the European Commission and the Executive Agency for Education and Culture? Please rate the quality of the management of the programme Excellent Quite satisfactory Not very good Unsatisfactory Don't know Management No. % No. % No. % No. % No. % Providing information Dealing with contracts Dealing with payments In dealing with the reporting procedures

7 Interim Evaluation of Erasmus Mundus - With regard to impacts, how far has participation in Action 1 helped make Strongly agree Agree Disagree Strongly disagree progress towards the following objectives No. % No. % No. % No. % Strengthened the European/international dimension of the activities of your institutions? Promoted academic excellence in your institutions? Developed intercultural understanding? Improved services to students in your institutions? Improved the quality of this course? Improved the quality of other Masters courses within participating institutions? Better prepared students for the challenges of competing in a global economy and an ever more internationalised work environment? How adequate do you feel the financial provision for the development of joint courses under Action 1 has been? Please rate the adequacy of financial provision Excellent Quite satisfactory Not very good Unsatisfactory Total How adequate do you feel the financial provision for the support of third-country scholars and students participating under Action 2 in Erasmus Mundus courses has been? Please rate the adequacy of financial provision Students Scholars No. % Excellent Quite satisfactory Not very good Unsatisfactory Total Do you think your Erasmus Mundus Masters Course will be financially sustainable once the Erasmus Mundus funding has ended Totally sustainable Somewhat sustainable Not very sustainable Not at all sustainable Total

8 Interim Evaluation of Erasmus Mundus - How well has the Erasmus Mundus consortium functioned? Excellent Quite satisfactory Not very good Unsatisfactory Total In your view, have there been more benefits in the operation of an Erasmus Mundus course for the co-ordinating institution than for the partner institutions? Benefits co-ordinator more Benefits co-ordinator a little more Benefits partner a little more Benefits partner more Total What problems, if any, did you encounter during the process of the implementation Very easy Quite easy Quite difficult Very difficult of an Erasmus Mundus Action 1 course? No. % No. % No. % No. % Implementing the Commission s required integrated approach Attracting the right number of students from third countries Attracting the right quality of students from third countries Getting visas for students from third countries Attracting students from EU countries to participate in the EM course Identifying academic staff with appropriate skills (foreign language skills, other skills) to deliver course content? Clarity of information/guidance from National Contact Points or the European Commission or the Executive Agency Communication/negotiation with partner institutions Linguistic issues Issues relating to mutual recognition of qualifications Issues of course funding

9 Interim Evaluation of Erasmus Mundus - Do you think Erasmus Mundus Action 1 overlaps with actions under other Community programmes in the field of higher education? Yes No No response Total Is your consortium currently running an Action 3 partnership with higher education institutions outside the EU? Yes No Total Action 1 - European higher education institutions (rejected applicants) A survey of those higher education institutions that had applied for assistance but which had not been successful was also carried out. The results are set out below: What were the main factors that influenced your decision to apply to participate in Action 1 of Erasmus Important Quite important Small importance Not important Mundus? No. % No. % No. % No. % Enhance course quality through joint working with other European universities Enhance teaching and learning practice within the EM course - through the involvement of students and scholars from other EU countries and third countries Increase staff development opportunities through transnational co-operation Enhance the international profile of your institution Attract more international students to other courses in your institution Association with the brand image of Erasmus Mundus Develop a wider co-operation with higher education institutions outside Europe (through eventual participation in Action 3) Attract more funds to your institution through additional tuition fees

10 Interim Evaluation of Erasmus Mundus - Please tell us what happened to the course when you heard you had not been accepted for Erasmus Mundus No. % It had little effect on the course and we continued as planned We changed the course and have reapplied or will reapply to Erasmus Mundus in a subsequent call for proposals We have reapplied or will reapply to Erasmus Mundus without changing the course in a subsequent call for proposals We continued the course at a reduced level We abandoned plans for the course Action 2 - students from third countries Students from third countries in receipt of an EM scholarship under Action 2 were also asked a range of questions with regard to their views and experiences of participating in the programme and whether their perceptions of European higher education had changed as a result of participation in the programme. The statistical results from this survey are set out in full below (again, the most interesting responses have been analysed in detail in the main evaluation report): In which academic year did you start your Erasmus Mundus programme (please tick all that apply)? Academic Year No. % 2004/ / / How did you first become aware of the Erasmus Mundus programme (please tick all that apply)? Website Recommendation from an academic institution Personal recommendation Advertisement In choosing a masters programme, what areas of the world did you Highly attractive Quite attractive Not very attractive Unattractive No response consider? No. % No. % No. % No. % No. % Europe North America South America Asia Australasia Africa

11 Interim Evaluation of Erasmus Mundus - What were the main factors that Quite Small Not influenced your decision to apply Important important importance important to participate in Erasmus No response Mundus? No. % No. % No. % No. % No. % Enhancement of future career prospects Quality of European higher education Quality of Erasmus Mundus course Unique characteristics of Erasmus Mundus course Availability of grant Cost Did not obtain first choice elsewhere Improvement of language skills The challenge of living and studying in another country Opportunity to come into contact with another culture Opportunity to study at a prestigious university abroad Development of personal skills Once you had been accepted, were there any barriers to participating in Erasmus Easy Quite easy Minor barrier Major barrier Mundus? No. % No. % No. % No. % Obtaining a visa or residence permit for a period of study in the European Union Accreditation of your existing qualification Translation of qualifications Linguistic barriers Cultural barriers Other What sort of help did you receive from your Masters programme before you Substantial Quite a lot A little None started the course? No. % No. % No. % No. % Languages Cultural Help with visas Help with accommodation, etc Help with residence permits Help with travel Introductory academic courses

12 Interim Evaluation of Erasmus Mundus - Please tell us about the course and study environment at the university you are studying at as part of EM. How would Excellent Quite good Not too good Low you rate the quality of the following? No. % No. % No. % No. % Course content Teaching Study environment Research services and facilities How would you rate the quality of the following student facilities at the university you are studying at (or most Excellent Quite good Not too good Low recently studied at) as part of EM? No. % No. % No. % No. % Accommodation Cultural facilities Sports facilities Placements Careers To what extent did you perceive the EM course as having been well integrated between the different European higher education institutions that run the course and deliver course content? Very well integrated Quite well integrated Not much integration Not integrated at all No response Total Looking back on your participation, what in your view were the main benefits of Substantial Quite a lot Some Not at all participating in the EM programme? No. % No. % No. % No. % Enhancement of future career prospects Quality of European higher education Quality of Erasmus Mundus course Unique characteristics of Erasmus Mundus courses Improvement of language skills The challenge of living and studying in another country Opportunity to come into contact with another culture Understanding of other cultures Opportunity to study at a prestigious university abroad Development of personal skills

13 Interim Evaluation of Erasmus Mundus - Do you think that an integrated course offered by a consortium of European universities has a clear added value over comparable national programmes? No. % Yes No No response Total It is an obligatory element of Erasmus Mundus masters programmes that students have to study in at least two institutions ( mobility ). How do you rate Excellent Quite good Not very good Bad this mobility? No. % No. % No. % No. % From the point of view of the academic benefit you derive from it From the point of view of transfer arrangements and organisation How useful do you perceive receiving a double or joint qualification as opposed to a Masters qualification from a single university from the perspective of the following? Future career Academic prestige No. % Very useful Quite useful Not very useful Not at all useful Total To what extent has participating in the Erasmus Mundus programme improved your perception of higher education in the European Union? Excellent Quite good Not too good Low Total Is the Masters qualification that you obtained from participating in an Erasmus Mundus course fully recognised in your country of origin? Yes No Don t know Total

14 Interim Evaluation of Erasmus Mundus - Was the scholarship funding provided sufficient to enable you to participate fully in the course and to live in the host country without undue hardship? Wholly sufficient Quite sufficient Not very sufficient Not at all sufficient No response Total Would you have participated without scholarship funding? No. % Yes No No response Total If you were choosing a masters course again, would you still choose to follow this Erasmus Mundus course? Yes No/ no response Total Action 2 - scholars from third countries Scholars from third countries were also asked for their views with regard to their participation in the EM programme and for suggestions on how the scholar dimension could be improved in future. The survey results are set out in full below: In which academic year did you participate in the EM programme (please tick all that apply)? Year No. % 2004/ / / How did you first become aware of the EM programme (please tick all that apply)? Website Recommendation from an academic institution Previous co-operation relations with the institution concerned Personal recommendation Advertisement

15 Interim Evaluation of Erasmus Mundus - In deciding to work in a university abroad, what areas of the world Highly attractive Quite attractive Not very attractive Unattractive No response did you consider? No. % No. % No. % No. % No. % Europe North America South America Asia Australasia Africa What were the main factors that Quite Not very influenced your decision to apply Important important important to participate in Erasmus Unimportant No response Mundus? No. % No. % No. % No. % No. % Enhancement of future career prospects Quality of European higher education Unique characteristics of the Erasmus Mundus course Reputation of the academic department you have joined Availability of grant Cost Did not obtain first choice elsewhere Improvement of language skills The challenge of living and working in another country Opportunity to come into contact with another culture Opportunity to work at a prestigious university abroad Development of personal skills Once you had been accepted, were there any barriers to participating Easy Fairly easy Minor barrier Major barrier No response in Erasmus Mundus? No. % No. % No. % No. % No. % Obtaining a visa for a period of work in the European Union Accreditation of your existing qualification Translation of qualifications Linguistic barriers Cultural barriers

16 Interim Evaluation of Erasmus Mundus - What sort of preparation did you receive, if any, prior to going to Substantial Quite good Not a lot None No response your chosen university? No. % No. % No. % No. % No. % Languages Cultural Help with visas Help with accommodation, etc Help with residence permit Help with travel What was the quality of the facilities at the university you are working in (or most recently worked at) as part of Erasmus Excellent Quite good Not very good Low No response Mundus? No. % No. % No. % No. % No. % Teaching Research Accommodation Cultural To what extent did you perceive the Erasmus Mundus course as having been well integrated between the different European higher education institutions that run the course and deliver course content? Very well integrated Quite well integrated Not very well integrated Not integrated at all Total Do you think that an integrated course offered by a consortium of European universities has a clear added value over comparable national programmes? Yes No No response Total To what extent have you been involved in teaching and research activities during your period as an A lot Quite a lot Not a lot Very little No response Erasmus Mundus scholar? No. % No. % No. % No. % No. % Teaching Research

17 Interim Evaluation of Erasmus Mundus - What was the length of your stay as a scholar in Erasmus Mundus? No. % More than 3 months About 3 months Less than 3 months No response Total The standard period of stay as an Erasmus Mundus scholar is 3 months. In your view, is this period: No. % Too long? About right? Too short? No response Total Looking back on your participation in Erasmus Mundus, what in your view were the main benefits of participating in the Substantial Quite good Not a lot Not at all No response programme? No. % No. % No. % No. % No. % Enhancement of future career prospects Quality of European higher education Reputation of the academic department you have joined Unique characteristics of Erasmus Mundus Improvement of language skills The challenge of living and working in another country Opportunity to come into contact with another culture Understanding of other cultures Opportunity to work at a prestigious university abroad Development of personal skills To what extent has participating in the Erasmus Mundus programme improved your perception of higher education in the European Union? No. % Excellent Quite a lot Not a lot Low Total

18 Interim Evaluation of Erasmus Mundus - Is the experience and any qualification that you obtained from working for an Erasmus Mundus course fully recognised in your country of origin? No. % Yes No Don t know Total Was the scholarship funding provided sufficient to enable you to participate fully in the work and to live in the host country without undue hardship? No. % Wholly sufficient Somewhat sufficient Not very sufficient Not sufficient Total Would you have participated without scholarship funding? No. % Yes No No response Total If you were choosing to go to a foreign university again, would you still choose to work for this Erasmus Mundus course? No. % Yes No No response Total Action 3 - students from EU countries Another survey group was students from EU Member States participating in the programme. It should be noted that there are much fewer EU students compared with international students participating in the programme, hence the total response was much lower for European students. The results are presented in full below: In which academic year did you start your the Erasmus Mundus programme (please tick all that apply)? Academic Year No. % 2004/ / /

19 Interim Evaluation of Erasmus Mundus - How did you first become aware of the Erasmus Mundus programme (please tick all that apply)? Website Recommendation from an academic institution Personal recommendation Advertisement What were the main factors that influenced your decision to apply to Important Quite important Small importance Not important participate in Erasmus Mundus? No. % No. % No. % No. % Enhancement of future career prospects Quality of Erasmus Mundus course Unique characteristics of Erasmus Mundus course Availability of grant to study at an institution outside Europe Cost Improvement of language skills The challenge of living and studying in another country Opportunity to come into contact with another culture Opportunity to study at a prestigious university abroad Development of personal skills Please tell us what obstacles you had in participating in an Erasmus Mundus Not important Little importance Quite important Very important course No. % No. % No. % No. % Costs Mobility requirements Lack of clarity of information about the integrated course and its requirements What sort of preparation did you receive, if any, prior to entering on your chosen course of study (please tick all that Substantial Quite a lot A little None apply)? No. % No. % No. % No. % Languages Cultural Help with accommodation, etc Help with travel Preparatory academic courses

20 Interim Evaluation of Erasmus Mundus - To what extent did you perceive the Erasmus Mundus course as having been well integrated between the different higher education institutions that run the course and deliver course content? Very well integrated Quite well integrated Not much integration Not integrated at all No response Total How would you rate the quality of the following student facilities at the European institution you are studying at (or most recently studied at) as part of Erasmus Mundus? Options Excellent Quite good Not too good Low No. % No. % No. % No. % Accommodation Cultural facilities Sports facilities Placements Careers For the European university you are studying at (or most recently studied at), how would you rate the quality of the Excellent Quite good Not too good Low following? No. % No. % No. % No. % Course content Teaching Study environment Research services and facilities Have these features been of comparable quality across all the institutions you have visited throughout your Erasmus Mundus masters programme? No. % Yes No No response Total Do you think that an integrated course offered by a consortium of European universities has a clear added value over comparable national programmes? Yes No No response Total

21 Interim Evaluation of Erasmus Mundus - It is an obligatory element of Erasmus Not very Mundus masters programmes that Excellent Quite good good students have to study in at least two Bad institutions in Europe ( mobility ). How do you rate this mobility? No. % No. % No. % No. % From the point of view of the academic benefit you derive from it From the point of view of transfer arrangements and organisation It is an optional element of Erasmus Mundus masters programmes that students can study in an institution outside Europe. How do you rate this Excellent Quite good Not very good Bad mobility? No. % No. % No. % No. % From the point of view of the academic benefit you derive from it From the point of view of transfer arrangements and organisation In respect of the integration of teaching or research modules with European universities Looking back on your participation in Erasmus Mundus, what in your view were the main benefits of participating in Substantial Quite a lot Some Not at all the programme? No. % No. % No. % No. % Enhancement of future career prospects Quality of Erasmus Mundus course Unique characteristics of Erasmus Mundus course The possibility of studying at an institution outside Europe Improvement of language skills The challenge of living and studying in another country Opportunity to come into contact with another culture Understanding of other cultures Opportunity to study at a prestigious university abroad Development of personal skills

22 Interim Evaluation of Erasmus Mundus - How useful do you perceive receiving a double or joint qualification as opposed to a Masters qualification from a single university from the Future career Academic prestige perspective of the following? No. % No. % Very useful Quite useful Not very useful Not at all useful Total Is the Masters qualification that you obtained from participating in an Erasmus Mundus course fully recognised in your country of origin? No. % Yes No Don t know Total Did you receive an Erasmus Mundus scholarship to study at an institution outside Europe as part of this course? No. % Yes No Total What sort of preparation did you receive, if any, prior to entering on Substantial Quite a lot Some None No response your chosen course of study? No. % No. % No. % No. % No. % Languages Cultural Help with visas Help with residence permits Help with accommodation, etc Help with travel Preparatory academic courses How would you rate the quality of the following student facilities at the third-country institution you are studying at (or most recently studied at) as part of Erasmus Excellent Quite good Not very good Low No response Mundus? No. % No. % No. % No. % No. % Accommodation Cultural facilities Sports facilities Placements Careers

23 Interim Evaluation of Erasmus Mundus - Have these features been of comparable quality across all the institutions you have visited throughout your Erasmus Mundus Masters programme? No. % Yes No No response Total For the third-country university you are studying at (or most recently studied at, how would you Excellent Quite good Not too good Low No response rate the quality of the following? No. % No. % No. % No. % No. % Course content Teaching Study environment Research services and facilities Was the scholarship funding provided for your study period in an institution outside Europe sufficient to enable you to participate fully in the course and to live in the host country without undue hardship? Wholly sufficient Quite sufficient Not very sufficient Not at all sufficient No response Total Would you have studied at an institution outside Europe without Erasmus Mundus scholarship funding? No. % Yes No No response Total If you were choosing a masters course again, would you still choose to follow this Erasmus Mundus course? No. % Yes No No response Total

24 2.6 Action 3 - scholars from EU countries Interim Evaluation of Erasmus Mundus - European scholars that have been accepted on the EM programme were also surveyed. Scholars supported through Action 3 have the opportunity to spend up to 3 months teaching and undertaking research in an academic institution in a third country outside the EU. The results are set out below in full: In which academic year did you receive a scholarship to go to a third-country institution in the context of the Erasmus Mundus programme (please tick all that apply)? Year No. % 2004/ / / What were the main factors that influenced your decision to work at an institution outside Europe as part of the Erasmus Mundus Important Quite important Not very important Unimportant programme? No. % No. % No. % No. % Enhancement of future career prospects Quality of higher education in your chosen country Reputation of the academic department you have joined Availability of grant Cost Improvement of language skills The challenge of living and working in another country Opportunity to come into contact with another culture Opportunity to work at a prestigious university abroad Development of personal skills Once you had been accepted for mobility towards the third-country institution, Easy Fairly easy Minor barrier Major barrier were there any barriers? No. % No. % No. % No. % Obtaining a visa for a period of work in your chosen country Accreditation of your existing qualification Translation of qualifications Linguistic barriers Cultural barriers

25 Interim Evaluation of Erasmus Mundus - What sort of preparation did you receive, if any, prior to going to your chosen Substantial Quite good Not a lot None university? No. % No. % No. % No. % Languages Cultural Help with visas Help with accommodation, etc Help with residence permit Help with travel How would you rate the quality of the following facilities at the third-country university you worked at as part of Excellent Quite good Not very good Low Erasmus Mundus? No. % No. % No. % No. % Teaching Research Accommodation Cultural Looking back on your participation in Erasmus Mundus, what in your view were the main benefits of participating in the mobility period at the third-country Substantial Quite good Not a lot Not at all institution? No. % No. % No. % No. % Enhancement of future career prospects Quality of higher education in your chosen country Reputation of the academic department you have joined Improvement of language skills The challenge of living and working in another country Opportunity to come into contact with another culture Understanding of other cultures Opportunity to work at a prestigious university abroad Development of personal skills Is the experience and any qualification that you obtained from participating in the mobility offered by Erasmus Mundus fully recognised in your country of origin? No. % Yes No Don t know Total

26 Interim Evaluation of Erasmus Mundus - Was the scholarship funding provided sufficient to enable you to participate fully in the work and to live in the host country without undue hardship? Wholly sufficient Somewhat sufficient Not very sufficient Not sufficient Total Would you have participated without scholarship funding? No. % Yes No Total If you were planning to go to a foreign university again, would you still choose to follow this Erasmus Mundus course? Yes No Total Action 3 - Partnerships (HEIs from EU countries) European HEIs participating in Action 3 Partnerships were asked a number of supplementary questions to the Action 1 EM Masters Course questionnaire regarding their experiences of participating in an international partnership with other academic institutions in third countries. The results are presented below: In your opinion, how relevant is Erasmus Mundus Action 3 to the needs of higher education institutions? Relevant Somewhat relevant Not very relevant Irrelevant Total In your opinion, does the EM Action 3 add value to higher education institutions? Relevant Somewhat relevant Not very relevant Irrelevant Total

27 Interim Evaluation of Erasmus Mundus - What were the main factors that influenced your decision to apply to Important Quite important Not very important Unimportant participate in Action 3? No. % No. % No. % No. % Enhance course quality through joint working with other universities Increase the attractiveness of your own institution to students through the development of an international higher education partnership Increase the attractiveness of your own institution to students by offering opportunities to complete part of the course in a higher education institution outside Europe Increase staff development opportunities through transnational co-operation Enhance the international profile of your institution Attract more international students to your institution Attract more European students to your course How far has participation in Action 3 helped contribute to improvements in the quality of this Masters course? Important Quite important Not very important Unimportant Total With regard to programme management, how efficiently and effectively has the programme been managed? Well managed Quite well managed Not very well managed Not well managed at all Don t know Total

28 Interim Evaluation of Erasmus Mundus - With regard to impacts, how far has Important Quite important Not very important Unimportant participation in Action 3: No. % No. % No. % No. % Strengthened the international dimension of activities in your higher education institution? Promoted academic excellence in your institution? Improved the quality of Masters courses within participating institutions? Better prepared students for the challenges of competing in a global economy and an ever more internationalised work environment? Developed intercultural understanding Attracted more European students to your course How adequate do you feel the financial provision for the development of joint courses under Action 3 has been? Please rate the adequacy of financial provision Excellent Quite good Not very satisfactory Unsatisfactory Total Do you think your Action 3 Erasmus Mundus masters course will be financially sustainable once the Erasmus Mundus funding has ended? Totally sustainable Somewhat sustainable Not very sustainable Not at all sustainable Total How well has the EM consortium functioned? No. % Excellent Quite good Not very satisfactory Unsatisfactory Total

29 Interim Evaluation of Erasmus Mundus - What problems, if any, did you encounter during the process of implementation of an EM Action 3 course? Quite Very easy Quite easy difficult Very difficult Problems No. % No. % No. % No. % Finding partner institutions in third countries offering compatible courses Finding partner institutions in third countries interested in Action 3 Negotiating an agreement with the partner institutions in the third countries Administrative obstacles such as timing of semesters, credit definition, organisation of outgoing mobility for European students Finding European students interested in mobility to a third country Services for outgoing European students Tuition fees Linguistic issues Issues relating to mutual recognition of qualifications Has your consortium been able to reach the target numbers for students on mobility? Yes No No response Total Do you think Erasmus Mundus Action 3 overlaps with actions under other Community programmes in the field of higher education? Yes No No response Total Please let us know why you have not used Erasmus Mundus Action 3 (addressed to European HEIs involved in Action 1 but which have not yet participated in Action 3) No. % Not considered it Decided not to Plan to do so in future Tried to do so but was not able to put a course together Tried to do so, but the proposal was rejected No response Total

30 Interim Evaluation of Erasmus Mundus Action 3 - Partnerships (HEIs from third countries) Higher education institutions from third countries that participated in EM were also asked in a separate survey for their views on Action 3 Partnerships, in particular how they became aware of the programme, how effective they view the Action as being and ways in which it might be improved in future. The results are set out below: In which academic year did you first participate in an Action 3 Partnership? Academic Year No. % 2004/ / / Total How did you first become aware of the Erasmus Mundus programme? No. % Website At a conference or exhibition Recommendation from an academic institution National contact point Personal recommendation Other advertisement In the process of preparing for participation in Erasmus Mundus Action 3, how easy or difficult did you find each of the following elements: Very easy Quite easy Quite difficult Very difficult No. % No. % No. % No. % Completing the application form? Developing appropriate course content compatible with that delivered through the Erasmus Mundus course by European higher education institutions? Identifying academic staff with appropriate skills (foreign language skills, other skills) to deliver course content? Accreditation of study period in third country by partners and/or competent authorities in the European Union? Setting a tuition fee for European students? Setting criteria for the selection of students?

31 Interim Evaluation of Erasmus Mundus - In your opinion, how relevant is Erasmus Mundus Action 3 to the needs of higher education institutions? Relevance No. % Highly relevant Quite relevant Somewhat relevant Not relevant at all Total Did co-operation with higher education institutions in EU countries already exist at the time of the Action 3 EM application? Yes No Total In your opinion, does Erasmus Mundus Action 3 add value to higher education institutions? A lot Quite a lot A little No value at all Total What were the main factors that influenced your decision to apply to Important Quite important Small importance Not important participate in Action 3? No. % No. % No. % No. % Enhance course quality through joint working with other universities Increase the attractiveness of your own institution to students through the development of an international higher education partnership Increase the attractiveness of your own institution to students by offering opportunities to complete part of the course in a higher education institutions in Europe Increase staff development opportunities through transnational co-operation Enhance the international profile of your institution Attract more European students to your course