Benefits, identity and values. Discussing the perceptions of higher education students about being part of Europe

Abstract

Over the years, the European Union (EU) has steadily tried to forge a European identity. But how successful has been the EU’s course of action? Building on the concept of European identity (and the values associated to it), this exploratory study aims to answer two main research questions: do higher education students perceive themselves as Europeans? Do they share the EU core values? With this purpose in mind, we conducted focus groups with students (N=15) from five European countries that were studying in a mobility program in Portugal. Our findings suggest that there is a weak connection with a European identity, although there is some proximity to European values. Students reveal scarce interest and knowledge about European issues, organization and current affairs.