Are international degree students indeed more employable? The case of Italian physiotherapy graduates in Slovenian higher education

Abstract

International student mobility and graduate employability are interdependently related as two key objectives of the Bologna Process. Although studies widely acknowledge that student mobility enhances the employability of international graduates, in particular cases there remain factors that may pose challenges that will be difficult to overcome. In this article, the authors consider the case of foreign (Italian) physiotherapy graduates who cannot acquire a professional qualification in the Republic of Slovenia which they can take back to their own country because of the legislative stipulation regarding a knowledge of the Slovene language for professional examination purposes. The authors begin by discussing student mobility policies and practices in Slovenian higher education. They then first address the (improper) implementation of Directive 55/2013/EU (concerning the recognition of professional qualifications in European Union Member States) in the national legislation and subsequently discuss the broader and related issue of the language of instruction in Slovenian higher education. In this context, they reflect on a present reality of the European Higher Education Area which stems from inconsistent national legislative efforts. Methodologically, the research is based primarily on the analysis of various documentary sources supported by quantitative and qualitative evidence.