STUDENT PERSPECTIVES ON INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION - A EUROPEAN DIMENSION

As a contribution to research in the field of international education, this study investigated the views of a number of 18-year-old students based in 'international' school around the world. In considering resp onses with a view to identifying the key features of such an education from the student perspective, the views of students at six of the Eur opean Union-funded European Schools were analysed and compared with th ose of students at international schools both within Europe and in the rest of the world. Results showed, in some areas, marked differences in what is valued by European School students and what is valued by st udents at international schools: in other areas there were no differen ces at all, suggesting support for the argument that there are a set o f 'universals' valued by international students worldwide. In still ot her areas there were clear similarities in responses of students at sc hools within Europe (European Schools and international schools), whic h were different from those from students at international schools out side Europe, suggesting a possible European geographical/cultural effe ct. Results highlight interesting distinctions between the different t ypes of school, and suggest areas for future research.