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The Thoughts of Kirikkale University Students in The Context of Cultural Interaction Under The European Union Education and Youth Programs
JOURNAL OF YOUTH RESEARCHES
Program has increased confidence” (P=0,044) there was a significant difference between
them (P < 0,05).
When the attitudes of the students participating in the research on the Erasmus+ Program
are examined, it is observed that there is no negative situation. It can be claimed that all
the participants had positive feedback about the Erasmus+ Program. Among the stu-
dents who had been to countries in Central Europe (Germany, Austria, Czech Republic,
Slovenia) and Western Europe (England, France, Netherlands), “Erasmus+ Program influ-
enced the learning process positively in classrooms where students were from different
cultures” (P=0,047) there was a significant difference between them (P < 0,05).
Conclusion and Recommendations
According to the results of the research, the 42 students taking the advantages of Eu-
ropean Union Education and Youth Programs, it can be said that a large part of them
believed the Erasmus+ program contributes significantly to the cultural interaction. Some
students reported negative opinions on some of the questions in the questionnaire. This
may be as a result of nationalism, etc.
According to the results of the research, the students have indicated that the European
Union Education and Youth Programs and the Erasmus+ Program has an important role
in acquiring the cultural interaction competence. For this reason, the qualifications to be
awarded to students in the context of internationalization of higher education institutions
can be listed at first. When it’s time to settle the activities, priorities of each country
should be taken into consideration. When making these determinations, it should be not-
ed that each country will have its own distinct cultural differences.
Bekiroğlu & Balcı (2014), indicate that students respect other cultures but intercultural
communication sensitivities differ according to the desire to benefit from the Erasmus
Student Exchange Program. It is observed that students who want to participate in Eras-
mus program, has a higher level of intercultural sensitivity. Another significant finding of
intercultural communication is the level of foreign language. Students expressed that
as the foreign language knowledge increases, the intercultural sensitivity also increases.
Ersoy (2013) stated that Erasmus Program has positive effects on increasing students’
knowledge and intercultural awareness of foreign languages and reducing their prejudic-
es. It is expressed that the skills of the students have been developed to find solutions
to the problems they may encounter in different cultural environments. The ability to find
solutions to the problems is an indirect consequence of the interaction with different
cultures.
