The perceptions of study abroad coordinators about digitalisation and Erasmus + virtual mobility

Abstract

Most study abroad research focused on the experiences of students, perceptions of study abroad coordinators received little attention in research. Addressing this gap, this study examines how changes after 2020 (i.e. digitalisation of the Erasmus + processes and virtual mobility) impacted the perceptions of study abroad coordinators ( N = 23) in a large public university in Turkiye. An open-ended online questionnaire was prepared and shared with the participants who were active in the last 4 years and who experienced both traditional and virtual mobility processes and analysed via the content analysis method. Our results revealed that our participants mostly welcomed changes in digitalisation and virtual mobility in terms of their impact on their duties and responsibilities. However, they thought that the impact of virtual mobility was limited on their students’ academic, communicative and cultural development. Our study also includes a discussion of these findings and implications for mobility staff and/or administrators.