Do international traineeships have more impact on the development of cognitive, interpersonal and intrapersonal competences than study abroad? A case study of Slovene student perceptions of their competence development through their Erasmus mobility

Abstract

In the context of the internationalization of higher education, international student mobility has in recent decades become an important strategic direction for countries as well as for institutions of higher education. In our study, we analysed Slovene Erasmus student perceptions of the development of their cognitive, interpersonal and intrapersonal competences through their stay abroad. The analysis shows that students perceive international learning mobility as an important factor for the development of their skills, as a mode of a more profound learning process through interactions in an international environment. It supports the development of their cognitive, interpersonal and intrapersonal competences through a social process between individuals from different cultural, organizational, social and personal values. Our research shows that the type of mobility affects the intensity and type of skills developed, with traineeships having more substantial competence development implications.