Student mobility policy in the European Union 1946-1996

Student mobility, defined as the movement of students between national systems of higher education is an activity assuming growing importance within the region of the European Union (EU). In recent years, policy-makers in the EU have ascribed academic mobility a political and economic role of significant proportions. Indeed, student mobility is expected to contribute to the international competitiveness of the European economy, to create European elite identities with a commitment to furthering European integration and to produce a mobile labour force, which is central to the success of the Single Market. In this context, student mobility has been thrust onto the policy agenda of intergovernmental organisations, national governments and higher education institutions within the EU. Although student mobility has become an explicit issue of policy within the EU, there has been little attempt to carefully analyse developments. In fact, the research literature pertaining to academic mobility remains limited, parochial, atheoretical and centred on student experiences. This thesis seeks to develop our knowledge and understanding of undergraduate student mobility in the EU through an analysis of policy at the intergovernmental, national and institutional levels in the context of a policy analysis framework. The result is new theoretically informed insights into the emergence, development, implementation and impacts of student mobility policy. Most notably, the creation of a systems model of the student mobility policy process facilitates an improved understanding of the relative contribution and interdependence of decision-makers at the intergovernmental, national and institutional levels during policy development and implementation. It is hoped that these insights enhance the understanding of those who make, implement and evaluate policy, such that the opportunities and constraints of future years are given considered attention in an area of increasing European significance.