INTERCULTURAL EDUCATION AND INCOMING-OUTCOMING OF ERASMUS STUDENT STUDY EXCHANGE: MARMARA UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

Abstract

This article aims to emphasize the importance and impact of intercultural education on the students of higher education with a specific focus on the ERASMUS Studies Exchange program through the case of Marmara University. Since its launch, ERASMUS Studies Exchange Program has attracted many students across the EU. The overall experience the students gained is not limited to academic experience but goes far beyond as cultural exchange, learning from one another, respect to diversities and increasing awareness on the issues of multiculturalism and intercultural education. Marmara University has been actively participating in the program since 2004, with increasing figures each year, in terms of both student and teaching staff exchange. Ranked as the first university in Turkey in terms of incoming student numbers and the sixth in terms of outgoing, (Turkish National Agency, 2013) the experiences of its students is thought to be important in further enhancement of and encouragement in participation to intercultural education experience. Based on the ‘ERASMUS Impact Study’ by the EU Commission, the case of Marmara University students is analyzed with a descriptive study.