Exploring Perspectives and Expectations of Undergraduate, and Postgraduate Students toward the Erasmus+ Program between Mogadishu University and Turkish Universities

Abstract

This quantitative study examines the perspectives of undergraduate and postgraduate students at Mogadishu University in Somalia toward the Erasmus+ program with Turkish universities Viz. Sivas Cumhuriyet University, Kütahya Dumlupınar University and Gaziantep University. The study uses a questionnaire and descriptive statistics and The Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U and Wilcoxon W analyses. The result proposes that the program provides positive advantages in intercultural communication and dialogue and improves students' ability to communicate effectively with people from different cultures, improving the positive impact of Erasmus on intercultural communication abilities. However, students perceive challenges, such as familiarizing themselves with a new cultural and academic environment and balancing academic work with social and cultural activities. The study also found that the Erasmus+ program provides high academic advantages, such as enhancing academic skills, knowledge acquisition, access to resources, critical thinking, and research skills. Overall, the study emphasizes the importance of study abroad programs like Erasmus+ in promoting intercultural communication and dialogue and enhancing academic skills, while institutions should provide adequate support to students to ensure they can fully benefit from the program.