Internationalisation, how?
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What is the Triangle of Internationalisation?
The Triangle of Internationalisation has been designed as a tool for study programs to engage in discussions about internationalisation. The Triangle forms a conceptual framework, creating a common language for Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences to clarify internationalisation. It is the result of discussions with course directors, directors and the Executive Board about internationalisation within RUAS. Experts from both within and outside the university have contributed to the conceptual framework. Programme teams can use the Triangle in discussions about the significance of internationalisation for the programme. For example, to formulate a programme vision on internationalisation or to prepare for accreditation. The Triangle is explicitly intended as a tool to outline possible directions of thought and development for study programmes. Because each study programme trains for a different profession, the professional profile is the starting point; the international dimension is the basis on which a team can determine how 'internationalisation' takes shape in the programme. The study programme can decide which 'triangles' it wants to develop (further), now and in the future. The Centre of International Affairs (CoIA) and the professorship Internationalisation play a facilitating role in this, together with a number of other experts form within the university. A programme indicates which specific service is required to shape the choice in development. What support is possible can be found in the bottom 'layer' of the Triangle. Of course, a programme can also set to work with the Triangle itself by using the information from the manual.
Download the 'Manual for Triangle of Internationalisation':
HUB internationalisation 2020
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Biology and Medical Laboratory Research
Business IT & Management
Sports Marketing & Management
Chemic Technology
Civil Engineering
Leisure & Event Management
MIB
HUB Internationalisation 2020
CMC
Pedagogy
Business Administration
Partner screening
In this article we are going to present the rationale for RUAS Partner Screening, its workflow, evaluate how corona-proof our current Screening is and outline future challenges.
Serious gaming
It is well known that students develop themselves while studying abroad. Unfortunately, it is not always possible to go abroad. Serious gaming could offer a solution.
It is now well understood that being able to understand and work with people from other cultures is a key skill that we all need to have in order to live and work in the globalised world that we all live in. As such, next to enhancing student’s professional knowledge, to facilitate their employability, it is now a key responsibility of universities to prepare students with intercultural skills and abilities. Skills they will need to succeed in a globalised world. A keyway for students to gain these skills is through having an international study experience as part of their programme. However, as evidenced in research undertaken by the EAIE, Nuffic and others, the (majority) of students do not have the opportunity to go overseas, for a variety of reasons.
To address this, CoIA initially undertook a research project to evaluate the suitability of using a serious game on intercultural competency with students at RUAS, as a way to help students develop these skills. A serious game is an immersive, ‘game based’ digital environment, where participants are given a task to complete. Doing so, participants therefore develop certain knowledge and skills. It is essentially a role-play computer game that has been adapted in order to become a learning experience for participants. Continue reading >
Cross-institutional professionalisation course: Internationalisation for Lecturers
In 2018, what started as informal networking and sharing of good practices between colleagues from Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences, The Hague University of Applied Sciences and Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences led to the development and execution of a course aimed at facilitating lecturers in internationalising their classrooms.
The decision to create this course came from a few joint interests: the first of which was practical- bringing together five trainers to co-develop and co-deliver the course allowed for more capacity in each institution. Secondly, bringing in the knowledge and expertise of multiple trainers was seen as a way to enhance the quality of the course. Finally, bringing together a diverse group of lecturers provides the opportunity for them to expand their networks and learn from peers.
In this short video, Giedre Vasiliauskaite, research lecturer from the Masters International Business shares what she experienced to be the value of this course.
The primary objective of the course (which will be delivered for a second time in 2020-21) is to make the most of the possibilities that internationalisation@home offers, both within an international classroom as well as in Dutch classrooms. In the first offering of the course, there were five sessions, each focusing on a different aspect of internationalising the classroom, beginning with the lecturers’ self-awareness, then focusing on the curriculum, then the module, classroom and finally on online learning (COIL). As a result of feedback from the first cohort of lecturers an additional session on assessment has been added to the second round of the course offering. Would you like more information? Contact Jessica Shinnick CoIA Internationalisation advisor, at j.h.shinnick@hr.nl
Research on internationalisation
As part of the ongoing work of the HUB Internationalisation, colleagues at CoIA are currently undertaking research on the impact of internationalisation at RUAS.
This research forms part of the Centre of International Affairs's ongoing commitment, through the HUB to drive forward internationalisation at the university. As detailed within the IBO (Interdepartementaal Beleidsonderzoek Internatioalisering) of 2018, there is currently a lack of robust research on the impact that internationalisation is having on higher education, despite the fact that almost all higher education institutions (HEIs) have undertaken a significant number of activities in the field of internationalisation, that have created added value for their students. The fact that such research has also not been undertaken at RUAS, was indeed therefore one of the reasons why it was decided that focused research on the impact that internationalisation has had at the university. Indeed, this research aims to help create a better evidence base, and in turn a better understanding of, the influence that the pursuit of internationalisation, and internationalisation related goals, has had on the purpose, functions, delivery and quality of educational programmes delivered at the university. The main research question for this study will be:
“What has been the impact of working on internationalisation for educational programmes at RUAS?”
To undertake this research, CoIA has contacted each of the programmes at the university that have taken part in the WP Internationalisation since its inception, and has asked them a focused group of questions triggering reflection upon issues how they have pursued internationalisation, the strengths and weaknesses of the approach taken, how they are ensuring sustainability of their actions, and lessons learnt. The research will lead to a publication that will be shared widely throughout the university. The research will also aim to provide the evidence to ensure future internationalisation efforts undertaken at the university are as successful and sustainable as possible.
Initial results of the evaluation and research have shown that:
- Programmes believe that you cannot see internationalisation as something "separate", but that it is an implicit process, that is inherent to the acquisition of soft skills.
- Programmes indicate, in particular that the HUB has led to a deeper reflection on internationalisation, and that colleagues in the study program have started to think differently about internationalisation. The exchange of ideas and practices leads to discussion and action, and it is evident that programmes have begun to involve entire teams onboard to pursue internationalisation.
- Programmes that have taken part in the HUB have noted that they and their colleagues have benefited from a better focus on internationalisation, and in particular internationalisation@home, as well as an increased understanding of cultural diversity - in addition to an improved internationalisation vision document. Several programmes also noted that they had successfully applied for an Erasmus grant.
- In order to ensure that their internationalisation efforts were sustainable over time, programmes detailed that they had taken steps to involve a larger number of colleagues in their programmes within the internationalisation efforts, in order to build commitment.
- Several programmes also raised the importance of embedding internationalisation activities, directly within the planned curriculum, as well as the importance of taking time to ensure the commitment of foreign partners involved in internationalisation efforts .
- Key barriers experienced by programmes in their pursuit of internationalisation, include lack of available time and resources, and barriers currently being experienced by all due to the Covid-19 virus pandemic. It was understood by programmes, that the effects of the Covid –19 virus, would mean that there would be less physical mobility, including of students, but at the same time it presented a number of opportunities for further action, including the possibility to extended the breadth and reach of online collaboration
Critical Success Factors Internationalisation (CSFi)
As part of the ongoing work of the HUB Internationalisation, colleagues at CoIA are currently undertaking research on the impact of internationalisation at RUAS.
Infographic: Impact HUBi 2017-2020
