Identifikace bariér účasti studentů Ekonomické fakulty VŠB-TUO v programu Erasmus+

Abstract

This thesis addresses the issue of student participation in international study mobility, specifically within the Erasmus+ programme, and focuses on identifying the barriers that prevent students from taking part. The aim of the thesis was to identify the main factors influencing the decision-making of students at the Faculty of Economics, VSB – Technical University of Ostrava regarding participation in the Erasmus+ programme, and to propose measures that could increase their involvement. The thesis is based on a combination of qualitative and quantitative research. First, 15 in-depth interviews were conducted with students with different levels of experience with the Erasmus+ programme. The findings from these interviews served as a basis for a subsequent questionnaire survey, which was completed by 309 respondents. The results show that barriers to participation differ across student groups. Among students considering studying abroad, the main obstacles are organisational and process-related, particularly administrative burden, financial uncertainty, and concerns about course recognition. In contrast, students who are not considering participation are more affected by personal and situational barriers, such as separation from family or partners, work commitments, and uncertainty related to staying in a new environment. The findings also indicate that some perceived barriers are not confirmed in practice, while administrative complexity represents a real issue even for students who have already participated in mobility. Based on these findings, specific recommendations were proposed, focusing mainly on simplifying administrative processes, improving the clarity of information, and enhancing communication towards students. Key measures include the creation of clear step-by-step guidelines, providing concise and practical information materials, and increasing the level of administrative digitalisation. Overall, it can be concluded that increasing student participation in the Erasmus+ programme is not primarily a matter of motivation, but rather of removing barriers that hinder their decision to participate.