Two Key Legal Issues for US Study Abroad in the EU: Definition and Student Mobility, Not Immigration!

Authors

  • Gian Franco Borio Studio Borio
  • Ana Marina Dorismond Proyecto Océano
  • Stephen Robinson Champlain College, Dublin Campus

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.36366/frontiers.v37i1.989

Keywords:

EU legislation, immigration, student mobility

Abstract

This article deals with two key legal issues for study abroad (SA) in Europe, namely (i) the lack of a comprehensive and legislative definition of SA, and (ii) the need to shift from the concept of non-EU student immigration to that of student mobility. Italy is the only EU Member State to recognise and define SA, with the other 26 EU states in a legal limbo of not having SA recognised by the domestic laws of the host country Case studies of these challenges are presented for Ireland, Italy, and Spain. This article also discusses student immigration rules, which have become a bureaucratic obstacle to SA in the EU The authors propose a new and specific “SA entry visa” at the EU level. This proposal helps shift the legal framework from one legalistic and grounded in immigration to one more fit-for-purpose, i.e., centring student mobility.

Abstract in Italian

Il presente articolo affronta due problematiche legali chiave nel tema dei viaggi studio all’estero: la mancanza di una definizione comprensiva e legislativa di SA (studio all’estero), e la necessità di passare dal concetto di immigrazione di studenti non europei a quello di mobilità degli stessi. L’Italia è attualmente l’unico Stato membro della UE a riconoscere e definire lo SA, lasciando gli altri 26 Stati membri in una sorta di limbo legale, in cui le istituzioni di SA non sono riconosciute dalle leggi in vigore nei paesi ospitanti. Studi di queste casistiche e le relative difficoltà, sono qui descritte per l’Italia, l’Irlanda e la Spagna. Il presente articolo illustra le leggi di immigrazione degli studenti, che sono diventate un ostacolo burocratico per i viaggi studio in Europa. Gli autori suggeriscono l’introduzione di un nuovo “visto d’entrata” a livello europeo per studenti esteri. Tale proposta aiuterebbe a spostare la natura giuridica della questione, da una legale e fondata sull’immigrazione a una più adatta allo scopo, ovvero incentrata sulla mobilità degli studenti

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Author Biographies

Gian Franco Borio, Studio Borio

Gian Franco Borio is an attorney at law and former CPA, Legal Counsel to the Association of American College and University Programs in Italy and to the European Association of Study Abroad (EUASA). He graduated with cum laude at the Law School of the Università degli Studi di Firenze (Florence), continued his graduate studies at SAIS of Johns Hopkins University in D.C., at the London City Poly, in Germany and in France. He served as Technical Counsel at the Italian Federation of EUCPAs (FEE) to the European Commission on Corporate Law, Tax Law, SMEs. He is a member of the Florence Bar, professional association of lawyers in Italy.

Ana Marina Dorismond, Proyecto Océano

Ana Marina Dorismond is a Spanish lawyer, with a specialism in immigration, corporate and labour law. She is a graduate in Law from the CEU San Pablo University in Madrid; Master in Business Legal Advice from the IE of Madrid, Master in Labor Law from the CEF of Madrid, and specialist in Immigration Law from the Madrid Bar Association. She runs a leading firm in Immigration Law called Proyecto Océano, immigration lawyers, based in Madrid with associated offices in Brazil, Canada, Colombia, México, Portugal, Spain, Venezuela, the UK, and the US.

Stephen Robinson, Champlain College, Dublin Campus

Dr. Stephen Robinson is Director and Professor with Champlain College’s campus in Dublin, Ireland. Stephen is an environmental geoscientist with a PhD from McGill University in Montréal, Canada, and he previously held the Chapin Chair in Geology at St. Lawrence University in Canton, NY. He advocates for the perspectives of on-site study abroad staff in Europe, and for climate action in international education. He is the Chair of EUASA and board member of ASAPI.

References

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Published

2025-01-30

How to Cite

Borio, G. F., Dorismond, A. M., & Robinson, S. (2025). Two Key Legal Issues for US Study Abroad in the EU: Definition and Student Mobility, Not Immigration!. Frontiers: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Study Abroad, 37(1), 117–135. https://doi.org/10.36366/frontiers.v37i1.989

Issue

Section

Special Issue on U.S. Education Abroad: The View from Europe