Abstract:

Higher education always had an international dimension. The global academic mobility and international educational programs reached a new level of internationalization that has never seen before. There is a prediction that the flow of students who choose to study abroad will increase from two million to seven million and a half, from 2005 to 2020 (Egron, E., 2012).

While internationalization is now an important stated aim often embedded within University charter and planning statements, the actual manifestation of internationalization differs widely amongst institutions both within and between nations (Altbach & Knight, 2007; Knight, 2004).

According to student mobility has been the increasing use of student exchange or ‘mobility’ programs in last 50 years (Adams, 2007. p.413). These programs offer students opportunities of short term stay in overseas locations, usually as part of joint exchange-styled experiences where students from one institution experience a period of time in a partner institution overseas.

One of the most known mobility programs in Jordanian universities The Erasmus+ Program aims to help people gain new skills, increase their employment opportunities and strengthen their personal development regardless of their age and educational background.

In Jordan the sector of higher education plays a key role in the process of comprehensive development at various levels and areas. During the last two decades. In spite of the limited financial resources in the kingdom, higher education lies within the priorities of the country as of the role it plays in promoting the economic, social and knowledge level of the Jordanian citizen.

Within the National Strategy for Higher Education in Jordan for the years 2014-2018, dimension of internationalization has been prioritized highly on the scale of competitiveness as well as innovation. This strategy outlined the optimal planning for investment of all constituents and components of the higher education system to create internationalization in various layers, within the following strategic components: governance and university management, accreditation and quality assurance, scientific research, academic programs.
There is a growing need in Jordan for universities to establish joint programs with overseas universities

The researchers are interested in exploring matters related to the students’ experience and reflections on their time as an exchange students, and the effect of this experience on their expectations, beliefs and Personality factors.

The aim of this study is to examine the value and benefits obtained from a semester length immersion in higher education and the wider cultural community for Jordanian students on programs in abroad universities.

The sample will be 36 students from two universities 20 students from university of Jordan and 16 students from university of Petra who had the opportunity of mobility for one semester abroad.

Interviews with students will be done to investigate phenomena at great and narrow depth and for data collection about other variables.

Keywords:

Student mobility, higher education, Jordan.