In December 2024 and January 2025, ACA organised two methodological seminars to discuss different approaches to evaluating the economic effects of credit and degree student mobility (in the latter case during studies, as well as post-graduation). Both seminars were attended by ACA members and other national funding agencies, which conducted similar studies in the past, as well as top experts in the field. 

The first seminar featured an overview of the existing approaches (presented by Irina Ferencz, ACA Director), as well as an ongoing project exploring the economic impact of international degree students and graduates in Germany, conducted for DAAD (presented by Dr. Jessica Schüller, Senior Desk Officer).  

The second seminar highlighted different studies conducted in  

• Estonia: Collaboration with the National Statistical Office for annual economic impact updates (presented by Eero Loonurm, Head of Higher Education International Marketing, Education and Youth Board – Harno, Estonia) 
• France: Study on the economic impact of international students in France (2022) (presented by Guillaume Tétard, Project manager for statistics and surveys, Campus France) 
• Austria: Study on the effects of Erasmus+ incoming participants on the Austrian economy (2018) (presented by Dr Martin Unger, Head of Higher Education Research Group, Institute for Advanced Studies Vienna – IHS, Austria) 
• Spain: Study on the economic impact of international students in Spain (2024) (presented by Dr Cristina Grasset, Project Coordinator, Spain Education Programs and Barbara García, Coordinator, Association of American Programs in Spain – APUNE). 

These seminars were organised as part of a research project conducted by ACA on behalf of five member organisations: the Agency for Mobility and EU Programmes (AMEUP, Croatia) as coordinator, the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), Tempus Public Foundation (TPF, Hungary), the Portuguese National Agency for Erasmus+ (AN-Erasmus+) and Fondacija Tempus (Serbia). The latter joined forces to explore the economic impact of incoming Erasmus+ students in these five countries, pursuing a comparative approach. 

Based on the seminars’ outcomes, the research team will map various indicators typically used to assess the economic effects of both degree mobility (during studies, as well as upon graduation, for those that stay in the host country) and credit mobility, to elaborate a broad analytical framework. Planned for the winter 2024/25, this framework will be accessible to any organisations or individuals interested in conducting research on the topic. In the second part of the project, the partners will carry out a comparative analysis of the economic effects of Erasmus+ mobility in five select countries based on the relevant, compatible metrics.