Transversal skills that can be achieved or improved through a mobility experience abroad
Traditionally, the most valued competences by companies have been connected with planning and time management. But this trend is rapidly changing and in the last years companies are looking for other skills like: ethical behaviour, initiative, creativity, emotional intelligence, motivation, management of change and stress, knowing languages, team work, autonomy and communication 2.0. Today most of them are part of the so called Transversal Skills and they can be achieved or improved through a mobility experience abroad.
How does the Erasmus experience influence the development of transversal skills as well as the personality and employability of the students?
According to the Erasmus Impact Study, a mobility experience abroad has an important impact on participants personal and working life. These are the main finding of the study:
IMPACT ON PERSONAL LIFE:
- The mobility experience itself brings about a positive change to the personality traits of Erasmus students: The average change achieved in six months through the Erasmus programme can be considered equivalent to a personality change that would normally happen over four years of life without the Erasmus experience.
- Erasmus also promotes labour mobility after graduation: Of all the Erasmus alumni, 40% had moved country at least once since graduation compared with 23% of non-mobile alumni. Moreover 93% (compared with 73% of the non-mobile students) could envisage living abroad.
- Erasmus students feel significantly more connected to Europe than non-mobiles: More than 80% feel that their European attitude has been strengthened by mobility.
- 32% of the Erasmus alumni had a life partner of a different nationality than their own, nearly three times more than non-mobile alumni.
IMPACT ON WORKING LIFE:
- Internships have a positive impact on finding a job, with approximately 40% Erasmus students being offered a position by their host company.
- 80% of Erasmus graduates find a job in 3 months
- 90% of Erasmus interviewed for the Impact Study said they had significantly developed competences such as adaptability, work in group, self-esteem, intercultural competences and communication competences.
- Five to ten years after graduation, significantly more Erasmus alumni (64%) than non-mobile alumni (55%) hold a management position.
- The mobility foster also an entrepreneurial spirit with 10% of students that have carried out an internship abroad, opening a company on their own.
Considering this, we can conclude that a mobility period abroad improves your value in the labour market, foster an entrepreneurial spirit and change your life!