A mobility pathway is a supported, planned learning experience overseas, usually an internship, that provides the opportunity for students to experience applying their education in a real world context. In Europe, programmes like Erasmus+ have given millions of students and trainees the opportunity to do this and there is considerable evidence showing the impact of participation.

The reflections shared below will focus on hard skills, where mobility makes a measurable impact. The Erasmus Impact Study (2014) found that 80% plus of respondents had an improvement of their foreign language skills, which is one of the more easily measured technical outcomes (European Commission, 2014a). Past students also highlighted that 70% plus believed that the skills they learnt overseas helped them get their first job after graduation (European Commission, 2014a). In some instances, mobility helped create entrepreneurial pathways where nearly 10% of the students surveyed had gone on to establish their own business when they returned home (European Commission, 2014b). These numbers show that mobility does more than develop knowledge: it has real career outcomes.

The case for soft skills is also convincing! This same study also examined the extent of soft skills being impacted and reported that over 90% of the participants became more adaptable, confident, and skilled problem-solvers (European Commission, 2014a). Additionally, the European Commission found that mobile students developed traits associated with employability, such as curiosity, decisiveness, and resilience, 42% more than their peers who stayed home (European Commission, 2014a). Employers see value in these skills, and over 90% of them say they seek these traits when they hire (European Commission, 2014b).

In short, mobility pathways are not simply an overseas experience; they are an opportunity for the development of both technical competence and personal development, equipping participants to thrive in an interconnected world.