Although the Covid-19 pandemic is the biggest single reason for the decrease in student exchanges in the last couple of years, the number of student exchanges at higher education institutions was in a slightly downward trend even before the pandemic. Samu SeitsaloDirector of international affairs and influence at the Norwegian Board of Education (OPH).
“One explanation can be the speed and concentration of research. People find it more difficult to include an exchange in their studies,” he says.
The University of Turku registered a decrease in the number of student exchanges in the early stages of the pandemic, but expects the numbers to return to the pre-pandemic level this academic year.
In 2019, the number of outgoing exchange students was slightly more than 500, and the number of incoming exchange students slightly less than 500 in 2019. Janne Loikkanen, director of international mobility at the University of Turku. In 2020, the number of outgoing exchange students dropped to 200 and the number of incoming exchange students to 300.
– The number of exchange students is already more than 500, and it looks like there will be more than 500 also for those coming to Turku, Loikkanen said.
Seitsalo also confirmed that there have been signs of a revival in the popularity of student exchange. However, the decline caused by the pandemic was so dramatic that the number of exchanges is unlikely to return to the post-pandemic level in the academic year 2022–2023.
“We still have issues that affect the general mood and sense of security,” he reminded.
One such thing is Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine. Finnish universities have suspended their cooperation with universities in Russia and Belarus due to the war.
Aleksi Teivainen – HT
Source: The Nordic Page