EUROSTUDENT 8. Collecting data on the social dimension of higher education

ended

EUROSTUDENT 8 aims to provide a broad, policy-relevant cross-country comparison of data on the social dimension in European higher education. Focus areas are students’ background, the study conditions, and experiences encountered, as well as their living conditions. These topics are analysed against the background of relevant system characteristics. Different students groups can be differentiated according to study-related characteristics (e.g. study intensity, entry into HE), socio-demographic characteristics (incl. migration background, impairments), and living conditions (e.g. housing). In this way, the EUROSTUDENT data allow a differentiated and comprehensive understanding of equity-related issues and questions of the social dimension of higher education in Europe. The project coordinates surveys of higher education students in 28 countries of the European Higher Education Area. Common guidelines for survey execution and for data cleaning and delivery, as well as individual close support of national research teams ensures that data are of high quality and comparable. Data will be made available to the Bologna Process Implementation report and are expected to contribute to the monitoring of the progress made in the Implementation of the “Principles and Guidelines to Strengthen the Social Dimension of Higher Education”, thus contributing to the development of evidence-based policy. Several project publications addressing different target groups (policy makers, researchers, general public) will analyse the data from a comparative perspective. The “Synopsis of Indicators” will provide a comprehensive, comparative overview of all topics, thus creating an evidence base for the evaluation of policy and its improvement at national and European levels. Detailed results will be made available in an online database (indicators, public) and Scientific Use File (anonymised micro data from at least 22 countries, for researchers) free of charge.