Finding the right courses is one of the biggest challenges for students planning an international mobility experience. Course catalogues should be a reliable source of information, helping students make informed decisions about their studies abroad. However, the latest DACEM report reveals that many students and university staff face persistent difficulties when using these systems.
Through interviews and focus groups with Erasmus+ coordinators, international students, and university staff, the report sheds light on the challenges, best practices, and opportunities for improving course catalogues across European universities.
What Are the Main Challenges?
The study found that many course catalogues:
- Contain outdated or incomplete information, making it hard for students to plan their mobility.
- Lack a standardised structure, leading to confusion when comparing courses across institutions.
- Have limited search and filtering options, making it difficult to find relevant courses.
- Are not always mobile-friendly or interactive, reducing accessibility for students who rely on digital tools.
What Works Well?
Despite these challenges, some institutions have adopted effective solutions:
- Advanced search tools that allow filtering by language, study level, and semester.
- Interactive features such as videos, virtual campus tours, and links to faculty pages.
- Integration with mobility platforms, streamlining the student experience from course selection to enrollment.
Key Recommendations for Course Catalogue Improvement
To enhance usability and support international student mobility, the report recommends:
- Standardising course information across universities, ensuring clarity in course descriptions, prerequisites, and credit systems.
- Improving usability through better search functions, filtering tools, and a mobile-friendly design.
- Ensuring regular updates to course details to maintain accuracy and transparency.
- Integrating catalogues with mobility platforms, allowing seamless access to course availability and enrollment processes.
- Providing multilingual support so international students can easily understand course offerings.
By addressing these issues, universities can create a smoother, more transparent course selection process, making mobility decisions easier and more reliable for students. Implementing these improvements will not only enhance the student experience but also strengthen the effectiveness of international exchange programs.
Download the full DACEM report to explore the findings in detail!
Cover photo by eric anada