Petition on mobility

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[edit] DRAFT PETITION:

I share the vision of an European Higher Education Area where students and teachers move freely across borders without timely, costly and complicated procedures. I want a European higher education area where every student and teacher regardless of their socio-economic background; their disability; gender; religion or their nationality can afford to go abroad. I want every student and teacher who is mobile to be able to fully take part in the society. Every mobile student and teacher should be able to study; teach or research in a safe environment with the same rights as their colleagues at the institution. Every mobile teacher and student has to have access to social services and affordable accommodation. Every student and teacher has a right to an academically meaningful period abroad which will be recognised by their home institutions within their careers.

Mobility is in the strongest interest of governments, institutions as well as the individual students, teachers and researchers. Students and academic staff can only gain new competences in a learning environment where there is a strong awareness of international developments and where there is a strong encouragement for new information, and academic discussion and critical inquiry in international forums. Students and academic staff need to have possibilities to learn to act in a multicultural environment. The higher education institutions can only develop and further their quality if their academic staff and students are internationally oriented. European identity can only be developed if people can move across borders freely without obstacles. Today's society needs highly educated citizens, who are able to interact across cultures.. It is the responsibility of the government and institutions to encourage and support mobility as well as remove the existing obstacles to mobility in Europe as whole.

Therefore, I demand that by 2010:

- Mobility grants are available for at least 20 percent of all students, and will cover both tuition and living costs

- All qualifications are recognized throughout the entire European Higher Education Area based on the principles of the Lisbon Recognition Convention

- All work periods abroad for staff are recognized for recruitment and promotion

- All ECTS-credits are recognized on their merit, not where they are from

- Free language courses are available in every higher education institution for both students and staff.

- All curricula allow for a substantial study period abroad.

- Free visa and resident permits are available for students and staff in higher education

- Work permits are available for all students

- The same social benefits are in place for local and international students and staff in higher education

- Social benefits and Pension schemes are mobile across all European borders

- A European Charter for mobile University Teachers be developed

- Promoting and supporting mobility is a clear responsibility of all European governments and higher education institutions

[edit] Comments

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Timo 09:19, 26 March 2008 (CET)