The ups and downs of managing study abroad: Insights from Spanish higher education

Abstract

This study delves into the experiences with managing study abroad reported by two mobility programs stakeholders: the vice-dean of International Relations and an Erasmus coordinator at a Faculty of a Spanish University. By means of content analysis of semi-structured interviews, this article aims to shed light on the intricacies of study abroad management in Spain, focusing on: 1) the types of study abroad programs that they are in charge of and their peculiarities, 2) the evolution of study abroad management in their institution, taking into account the pre- and post-pandemic period, and 3) the constraints and improvements to study abroad programs management that they are cognizant of. By approaching two types of stakeholders, considered to represent top-down and bottom-up study abroad management, the present study aims to triangulate perceptions from different actors that participate in the governance and guidance of study abroad in Spanish higher education.