Once a student has returned from their mobility, it is important to provide post-mobility support. This will help integrate the knowledge and skills they have acquired during their mobility into their future academic and professional lives development. As well as encouraging student reflection, this is also an opportunity for the team coordinating mobility to critically reflect on their own practices.

“Through this journey, I also learned a great deal about other cultures and their traditions. It was a truly beautiful experience, one that supported me deeply on a psychological level, and I would do it again without a moment’s hesitation.”

- Student from Greece

Importance of Post-Mobility Support

Adequate post-mobility support is beneficial for all students, especially students with disabilities. Structured follow-up gives students the opportunity to reflect on their experience. 

“The results have been very positive at professional and personal levels; the students have improved their self-confidence and self-esteem. Now it’s necessary to confirm the existence of continuity in studies and training.”

- Teacher from Spain

Topics to cover during post-mobility support:

• Integration of Acquired Skills: Integrating mobility experiences into future learning and development is essential, as they can enhance self-advocacy and personal growth. Methods can include keeping journals, reflection activities, evaluation form, mentoring or guided discussions, practical exercises or workshops to apply new skills and peer networking opportunities.

• Psychosocial Challenges: After a mobility period, students may experience a wide range of emotions, which can intensify existing mental health issues. It might take time and professional counselling to adjust again to everyday life at home.

• Reverse Culture Shock: After a longer mobility experience, students may find it difficult to readjust to their home culture or education system, especially if they return to less inclusive environments than those they experienced abroad.

In addition to general support following their time abroad, it is important to provide the specific support based on students' individual needs, such as:

• Professional Development: Reflect on how their mobility experience has contributed to their personal and career development through a workshop with peers or a personal counselling session. You can for example discuss their acquired skills and knowledge, how to refer to their mobility experience in their CV/LinkedIn page and how to talk about it in job applications.

• Post-Placement Reflection: While some students have had the Erasmus+ period abroad, most of them usually in home city, after work-placement period, all members of same study group could assess their performance at workplaces realistically, identify strengths and development, and share experiences. This is also an opportunity to exchange international insights with peers in VET college at home.

• Psychosocial Support: It is recommended that counselling services and peer support groups are made available to all students. You can for example address reverse-culture shock. Returning home after a period abroad can sometimes be unexpectedly challenging. Students may experience feelings of frustration, boredom, or isolation as they readjust to their home culture and routines. To help ease this transition, it is important to provide guidance and structured opportunities for reflection on their feelings and experiences returning home.

• Social integration: Encouraging to keep the connections and networks built during the mobility, is a key part of the programme, for example through activities of the Erasmus Student Network (ESN).

Further recommendations

• Post-mobility support should be integrated into institutions' mobility programmes.

• Recognition of acquired skills can be improved by using certifications such as the Europass Mobility Certificate.

• Evidently, students benefit from personalised support that is tailored to their specific challenges and opportunities.

• It has been demonstrated that using interactive tools facilitates reflection on and integration of learning experiences.

The next checklist on module 5 will help you to check the accessibility of the post-mobility support.

The next checklist will help your students after their mobility.

You can find an example of the form that students can fill in to evaluate an internship abroad here.