Eurodesk Youth Information Survey 2025
Mobility experiences in 2022 and 2023
Among young people with a mobility experience in 2022 or 2023 (40% of respondents), almost all mobility formats were presence-based (89%). In particular, improving cultural awareness, increasing language skills and enhancing self-confidence were the most highly rated positive effects of mobility stays. For around half of 24- to 29-year-olds (46%) and 30- to 35-year-olds (47%), mobility had a positive impact on employability. The most important information channels were social media, websites and information provided by educational institutions. Instagram and YouTube were used across all age groups, LinkedIn mainly by university graduates, Facebook mainly by people over 24, and TikTok particularly by those aged 23 and under.
Obstacles to mobility
Financial and administrative difficulties, the challenge of making new friends abroad, insufficient language skills, leaving one’s comfort zone and a lack of accessible information were identified as key obstacles that prevent or hinder mobility. Around half of young people who took part in mobility programs in 2022 and 2023 also stated that they had experienced culture shock and/or reverse culture shock (45%). Minority groups – including young people from economically disadvantaged backgrounds and non-binary young people – were more likely to face greater barriers to participating in mobility programs than their peers.
Recommendations to enhance access and inclusion
The recommendations identified in the survey aim to reduce existing barriers and enable fairer access to international mobility by
- Improving transparency and comprehensiveness of information on (financial) support opportunities for mobility activities.
- Develop tailored communication strategies an information services to reach different target groups and overcome barriers to participation in mobility activities, for example for socio-economically disadvantaged or non-binary young people.
- Expand services to provide practical guidance on coping with culture shock or refer young people to appropriate support services. This includes support mechanisms for the critical period of settling in after returning from a mobility period.
- Explore and invest in Artificial Intelligence (AI) solutions to support and streamline the mobility application process, in particular toto assist young adults facing additional barriers.
The Eurodesk Youth Info Survey 2025 addresses young people from all educational backgrounds. With 7,144 compared to almost 23,000 respondents, the scope is smaller than that of the XV ESNsurvey, which was published in 2024 and is based on feedback from higher education students.
