International Student Mobility – Poland in Comparison with Selected European Union Countries

Abstract

The paper aimed to diagnose Poland’s position in terms of stu­dents’ mobility abroad compared with selected European Union countries and to identify the opinions of students from Polish public universities of economics on the benefits and barriers of international exchange. The re­search used a multimethod approach (desk research method and survey method), with data triangulation (secondary data – UNESCO statistical data and primary data, obtained in surveys). The research shows that Poland has the lowest outbound mobility rate and the most significant imbalance be­tween incoming and outgoing exchange students of all the countries sur­veyed. The top three benefits of international exchange include improved language skills, getting to know another culture and the opportunity to find out if a student wants to live and work abroad. The authors found the main barrier to be the cost of studying abroad.