Outbound Mobility at Universidad Nacional del Sur: New Challenges for Post-pandemic Internationalization

Abstract

The unexpected cancelation of in-person academic activities – produced by the health emergency caused by the COVID-19 disease – resulted in a detriment to the immersive nature of students’ mobility experiences. The objective of this research was to conduct an exploratory and descriptive analysis of the outbound mobility experience of students at Universidad Nacional del Sur, in Argentina, during the COVID-19 pandemic. A proposal for a solution to the impossibility of students moving to other countries or universities was to continue mobility virtually. The methodology applied in this research was qualitative: students who participated in a student mobility program during 2020 and 2021 were surveyed and interviewed. Despite the challenges evidenced by the research, the results showed that students felt highly satisfied with their mobility experience. Virtual mobility is a promising option for those people who for various reasons cannot travel abroad but can benefit from the mobility experienced from home.

Keywords

• student mobility
• pandemic
• internationalization of higher education
• virtual mobility