Definition of IHES
Definition of IHES
IHES Virtual Conference 2021
Showcasing examples of good practice around the world
Internationalisation in Higher Education for Society (IHES)
8-9 December 2021
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Conference Agenda 2021
Wednesday 8 December 2021
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Dec 8, 12.30-18.00 CET
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Dec 8, 12.45-13.00 CET
Opening of the IHES conference 2021
Dr. Uwe Brandenburg, Director of the Global Impact Institute
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Dec 8, 13.00-13.45 CET
“Setting the landscape for IHES: The IHES report”
Martin Bogdan (ACA) and Uwe Brandenburg (GII)
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Dec 8, 14.00-14.45 CET
Key Panel: “The SDGs and COVID: the responsibilities of internationalisation in Higher Education”:
Chair: Dr. Uwe Brandenburg
Dr. Jamil Salmi (formerly Worldbank, Colombia)
Dr. Robin Helms (ACE, USA)
Dr. Caroline Benton (University of Tsukuba, Japan)
Dr. Verity Firth (University of Technology Sydney, Talloires Network, Australia)
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Dec 8, 15.00-15.45 CET
Stream 1: “Inclusion and educating the public”
Chair: Dr. Rajika Bhandari
Literacy Program at the Zambia Catholic University
Dr. Petronella Lubanga, Dean of Social Science, Zambia Catholic University, Zambia
Through this programme participants become less dependent on social welfare support by becoming independent through the acquired skills. These include improving their skills in English, mathematics, entrepreneurship and IT. Based on the research carried out by a student of development studies, the programme has long lasting positive impact on local participants by helping them improving their self-image and raising their self-esteem in society, especially on women who are specifically targeted for participation. The programme is supported by the Department of Development Studies, University Student Union, Czech Development Agency through the Embassy of Czech Republic in Zambia.
All IHES goals except supporting European identity are very relevant for this activity and centrally involved actors at HEI are domestic and international academics and students. International elements include HEI capacity building for developing countries, online teaching and learning with international partners and international study programmes along with outbound mobilities and voluntary activities. A variety of societal target groups is covered by the activity. For example, peers and friends of students, youth home and abroad and school pupils.
Contact: Dr. Petronella Lubanga, petrie124@gmail.com
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Universidad Católica de Santa Fe, Argentina - Public policies for local development
Dr. María Luísa Gutierrez Peart, Head of Internationalisation, Universidad Católica de Santa Fe, Argentina
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The university has developed a programme called "Public policies for local development" involving the local community. It has brought together international academics to give seminars and meet local academics and actors from the community working on health, entrepreneurship, education, mass media and federalism. It resulted in finding different types of collaboration with the public and private sector and achieve comprehensive internationalisation. The programme consists of agreements with the public sector, industries and civic society and provides a solid basis for expansion of activities and starting new similar programmes. It involves university staff, school staff, secretary of science, research and extension, and the international office.
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More information
Contact: Dr. María Luísa Gutierrez Peart, mgutierrezpeart@ucsf.edu.ar
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International Network of Town and Gown Universities (iNTGU) at Stellenbosch University, South Africa
Lidia du Plessis, Senior Coordinator: Staff Mobility & Partnership Projects, Unit for Partnerships, Stellenbosch University, South Africa
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The International Network of Town and Gown Universities (iNTGU) was established at the end of 2018 at Stellenbosch University as part of its centenary celebrations. A secretariat was established soon after to institute and strengthen this network. Since the inauguration, a number of achievements, characterised by members’ getting to know best practises, establishing goals and aims, setting guideline drafts, conducting surveys and setting direction have been attained.Due to the impact of COVID-19, iNTGU shifted its focus on the members’ responses and engagements within their town and community around Covid-19 and how the universities, their students and their academic programmes are progressing. The current focus is on how the members are engaging with their ‘town’ around Covid-19 issues, challenges and opportunities. The outcome is to strengthen the network, share knowledge, experiences and resources and discuss strategic ways forward.
Contact: Lidia du Plessis, lidia@sun.ac.za
Dec. 8, 16.00-16.45
Stream 2: “Towards global citizens”
Chair: Dr. Janet Ilieva
Banja Luka Pier - Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) (Norway), University of Banja Luka (Bosnia and Herzegovina), University of Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Dr. Markus Schwai, Professor, Institutt for arkitektur og planlegging/ Department of Architecture and Planning, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Norway
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The project supports SDGs, environment and sustainability and active citizenship by providing practice-oriented research and knowledge transfer. It primarily involves domestic and international students and academics and a wide range of international elements at all involved HEIs – from outbound mobilities of students and staff to voluntary activities. Similarly, it involves many local and international societal groups, especially abroad, such as municipalities, NGOs and public service providers. The project included research on urban acupuncture, design of a small urban intervention and its construction (within a student workshop) at specific location in an open public space. This is one of the first architectural interventions in an open public space on the banks of River Vrbas in Banja Luka. The project therefore received generous attention both from professional and general public and has in turn generated a number of other small changes and minor projects elsewhere in the city, and more are likely to follow. The physical output is a wooden platform along the river Vrbas, which ends in a landing stage (for traditional boats on the river). It holds additional volumes, which can be used for sitting, table or backrest, and as a stage. Students learnt to work in wood and foundation building. They also experienced - and thus learnt - that direct action may be applied as a method when authorities refuse to open up for improvement of public spaces. Local stakeholders and the general public (re)gained accessibility to a highly valued public space along the river Vrbas. As this was the first student building workshop in a public space in Bosnia and Herzegovina, strong interuniversity learning (Norway - BiH) was established with students and local activists (also from university) showcasing possibilities and thus opened the field for follow-up projects. The project paved way for (as of today) three more similar projects in Banja Luka (2017-2020). This project also works as a show-case and reference for Bosnian architects showing them possibilities of a future to work in their country highlighting also other parts of the architects’ work and social responsibility.
Contact: Dr. Markus Schwai, markus.schwai@ntnu.no
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SMiLE programme
Lidia Gallego, International Center, Universitat Rovira I Virgili, Spain, & Susana de Llobet, International Center, Universitat Rovira I Virgili, Spain
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The SMiLE programme is a joint coordination programme between the Rovira i Virgili University and the Department of Education in Tarragona, Spain. It is specially designed for incoming international students at the URV and Erasmus+ Internships to gain interntational teaching experience. The aim of the programme is to promote the learning of foreign languages (mainly English, French and German) in secondary and primary schools and to contribute to developing intercultural skills, in the schools where the incoming international students are placed.
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Contact: Lidia Gallego, lidia.gallego@urv.cat, Susana de Llobet, Susana.llobet@urv.cat
OLLOVE – LGBTQ+ visibility in Olomouc
Ondrej Moucka, ESN Palacky University Olomouc, Czech Republic
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Description: Ollove is an NGO, a group of volunteers dedicated to spreading edification and awareness about LGBTQ+, gender and feminism related topic in area of university city Olomouc. With the idea that people often fear the unknown, they are focused on being visible, seen and heard. By hosting cultural events such as art exhibitions and film screenings, discussions and events of popular-science character they try to set and maintain the communication between majority and minorities. Ollove was founded in 2012 as a civic association and is registered NGO since 2015. The project is conducted by the Erasmus Student Network at the Palacky University Olomouc.
Contact: Ondrej Moucka, ondrej.moucka@ollove.cz
Developing global citizens
Nalini Andrade, International Development Institute, Humber College, Canada
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‘Developing global citizens’ is a strategic priority at Humber College and engaging in international development supports this goal. Its International Development Institute (IDI), through projects in Kenya, provides opportunities for faculty, staff, and students to build global citizenship. IDI brings together the Humber community and development partners to contribute to effective and sustainable development around the world while enriching teaching and learning outcomes and developing cross-cultural competencies among the campus community.
Contact: Nalini Andrade, nalini.andrade@humber.ca
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Dec. 8, 17.00-17.45
NAWA: Bold decisions in times of crisis. Polish experiences.
Chair: Dr. Zofia Sawicka, NAWA Deputy Director
NAWA's perspective as an institution financing scholarships and grants. Experience and lessons learnt from the implementation of NAWA Programmes: Solidarity with Belarus Programme and NAWA Urgency Grants
Dr. Zofia Sawicka & Dr. Renata Mieńkowska-Norkiene, Faculty of Political Sciences and International Studies of the University of Warsaw
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Bold federal decisions on the example of Gdańsk City
Dr. Anna Jurkowska-Zeidler, Vice-Rector of the University of Gdańsk
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Perspective from a technical university: How to implement social responsibility through international research cooperation, as well as from the European perspective (Academia Europaea)? How do Polish universities deal with these topics?
Arkadiusz Wójs, Rector of the WrocÅ‚aw University of Technology
Dec. 8, 18.00-18.45
British Council: The power of HE partnerships in a dynamic context – the experience of the new UK-Greece IHE programme
Chair: Maria Tsakali, Head Education, British Council Greece
Dr. Tatiani Rapatzikou, School of English, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Dr. Jackie Norton, Associate Professor International, Faculty Deputy Director of International Partnerships, Birmingham City University
Steve Thomas, Head of International Partnerships, University of Reading
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British Council Greece in partnership with the Greek Ministry of Education and the British Embassy are developing and implementing a programme aiming to foster collaborations between Greek and UK universities. Since its launch in March 2021, the entire Greek university sector and 30 UK universities have engaged in the programme’s activities. As a result, several universities report having intensive discussions with future partners and are close to reaching the pre-MoU stage of conversations. In this session, institutions will share their experiences from participating in the programme and the benefits they seek to gain such as enhanced international co-operation and capacity building, improving the quality of education and research, improving graduate employability as well as serving large social goals.
Thursday 9 December 2021
Dec 9, 08.30-14.00 CET
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Dec. 9, 09.00-09.45
“Under the microscope: regional IHES laboratories”
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Dr. Josepa Garreta-Girona, (URV, Spain)
Dr. Dalibor Mikulaš (Palacky University Olomouc, Czech Republic)
Presentation on Intellectual Output 3: Regional IHES laboratories
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Dec. 9, 10.00-10.45
Stream 3: “Service learning and volunteering”
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Chair: Dr. Betty Leask
Connecting the local with the global in a transdisciplinary Service-Learning course: "Actively shaping the city - Forms of engagement of newcomers in Reutlingen"
Franziska Müller, Staff member Service-Learning, DAAD-funded accompanying program to CIVIS - A European Civic University, Universität Tübingen, Germany
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The online Service-Learning course in English language was offered for Bachelor's students in the Transdisciplinary Course Program of the University of Tübingen. The societal partner was the Integration Council of the City of Reutlingen, a municipal advisory board. The goal was to investigate the possibilities and motives of newcomers to participate in Reutlingen, a diverse German municipality. In addition to discussing topics such as civic engagement, students carried out and analyzed interviews with newcomers. The results included aspects for the integration of newcomers and with this support the partner’s aim to promote equal participation of residents with migration background.
Contact: Franziska Müller, f.mueller@uni-tuebingen.de
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Young Universities for the future of Europe
Emma Zeniou, Head of Mobility Office, University of Cyprus, Cyprus, YUFE Project (European University Initiative)
The YUFE Alliance is based on the joint vision of ten young research-intensive universities and four non-academic partners located all across Europe. One of the actions that the Alliance promotes is the Civic Engagement Activities which are the Yufe Volunteering and the YUFE Help Desks. Under this framework the University of Cyprus developed its Help Desk on Entrepreneurship and two Community volunteering actions in cooperation with the NGO Caritas, .the “Survival English” and the University Volunteering in Migrant Services. Students of the University of Cyprus and the Alliance work or these activities and provide their services to the citizens of Nicosia.
Contact: Emma Zeniou, zeniou.emma@ucy.ac.cy
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International Volunteering Service – University of Girona
Oriol Jordà Farrés, Coordinador de Voluntariat Internacional, University of Girona, Spain
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This project within the University works as a service for students who are interested in volunteering abroad during or after their studies. We provide them with a personalised assessment and let them know about the different opportunities suitable for each individual, as well as supporting them in terms of improving their CV and cover letters for their applications. Furthermore, the service offers vacancies for projects across Europe throughout the year, both short term and long term. The most solicited opportunities are the ones related to the Erasmus + program, such as Training Courses, Youth Exchanges and ESC.
Contact: Oriol Jordà Farrés, voluntariat.internacional@udg.edu
Dec. 9, 11.00-11.45
Stream 4: “Supporting Refugees and migrants”
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Chair: Dr. Uwe Brandenburg
The Support program of the University of Barcelona for refugees and people from conflict areas
Catalina Jerez, Coordinator of the UB Support program for refugees and people from conflict areas, Fundació Solidaritat, University of Barcelona, Spain
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The Program develops the social responsibility of the UB, which, in the context of a globalised world, has a firm commitment to contribute with its resources, facilities and knowledge to the construction of a peaceful and fair society based on cooperation and solidarity. Coordinated by the UBSolidarity Foundation, the Program implements academic and social integration support actions, including educational scholarships, language learning courses, accommodation and psychosocial support, academic orientation, legal advice and mentoring. The Program develops its activities within an institutional strategy that highlights intra-institutional cooperation and external collaboration (with public administrations, NGOs, enterprises,...).. It also implements raising awareness campaigns.
Contact: Catalina Jerez, cjerez@ub.edu
Students at Risk
Hilde Granås Kjøstvedt, seniorrådgiver / senior adviser, Seksjon for globalt samarbeid (GLO), Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills, Norway
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«Students at Risk» was established on the basis of an initiative by the Norwegian Students’ and Academics’ International Assistance Fund (SAIH) and the National Union of Students in Norway (NSO). The programme is funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (the MFA), which has delegated the administration to the Norwegian Agency for International Cooperation and Quality Enhancement in Higher Education. Universities and other higher education institutions are often seen to catalyst thought processes directed towards a just societal organization, and to prompt students to engage in political activism or other forms of advocacy for change. In many cases, however, such student activists are at considerable risk of a multitude of direct and indirect adverse reactions to their activism, hereunder commonly denial of further education, as well as other forms of harassment and attempts to silence their voices. The overall objective of the programme is to identify such students, who, due to their human rights’ activism, are «at risk» of being formally or de facto denied educational or other rights in their home country, and to provide these students with an opportunity to complete their education in Norway. Students accepted under the programme will be enrolled in Bachelor or Master degree programmes at a higher education institutions in Norway and receive a scholarship sufficient to cover all necessary costs incurred in the course of their study. Upon completion of their studies, students will be expected to return to their home countries.
Contact: Hilde Granås Kjøstvedt, hilde.kjostvedt@hkdir.no
NEwly ARrived in a common home
Olivia Mair, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Centre for Higher Education Internationalisation, Università Cattòlica di Sacro Cuore, Miland, Italy
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NEAR is a two-year project funded by the European Commission under the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF), involving a corsortium made up of Iniziative e Studi sulla Multietnicità (ISMU, Italy), Tamat NGO (ITALY), Cardet NGO (Cyprus), AidGlobal (Portugal), Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (Italy). The project aims to foster the process of integration of newly arrived migrants (adults and minors) throughout their settlement in the host countries. This project is meant to raise awareness as well as enabling knowledge and cross-cultural transfers between migrants and local communities by using a bottom-up strategy, working at a local level (in Lisbon, Nicosia, Perugia and Milan). The university is involved in delivering WP6, which focuses on improving the orientation process and experience of degree-seeking students in both the university and local communities.
https://www.ismu.org/en/project-near-newly-arrived-in-a-common-home/
Presenter: Dr. Olivia Mair, olivia.mair@unicatt.it
IDA „In Dresden ankommen“
Louis Kohaupt, IDA team, TU Dresden, Germany
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IDA is short for “arriving in Dresden “. We are a student initiative dedicated to simplifying the process of arriving in Dresden and creating a welcoming atmosphere especially for refugees. To achieve these goals, we first started with German and alphabetical classes in refugee camps back in 2015 and over the course of the following years embarked on very different projects. To name just a few there is our buddy program, which provides support on an individual basis, our university language courses in Persian and Arabic, thought by native speakers who themselves fled to Dresden, and various other intercultural activities.
Contact: Louis Kohaupt, louis.kohaupt@mailbox.tu-dresden.de
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Dec. 9, 12.00-12.45
Stream 5: “Sustainable Development Goals”
Chair: Darren McDermott
Multistakeholder Grants for Young Researchers
Laurens Rademakers, Senior Advisor Development Cooperation, KU Leuven, Belgium
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The goal of this project is to offer young researchers an opportunity to co-create a development-relevant research topic, together with a civil society organisation (CSO) in the North and a researcher and a CSO in the Global South. The topic has to be related to one or more of the SDG’s and aim for a tangible local impact. The co-creation process entails a transdisciplinary dialogue, in which all stakeholders try to break out of their silos, learn from each other, and find consensus on a research theme the outcomes of which present a win-win to all partners. This process is not easy, but it contributes to building specific capacities of both the academic and non-academic partners.
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Contact: Laurens Rademakers, laurens.rademakers@kuleuven.be
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Global Sustainability and Engagement
Lies Verstraete, Global Engagement Officer, VIVES University of Applied Sciences, Belgium
The course Global Sustainability and Engagement is an institution-wide elective course for all students at VIVES University of Applied Sciences, as well as for all incoming exchange students and international distance learning students from partner universities. In this course, students gain awareness and insights about global challenges from experts in the field, using the SDGs as a frame of reference. As part of their final evaluation, students can opt for a theoretical track with a concluding research paper or an engagement track, in which, through community service learning, they undertake a project in their own community.
Contact: Lies Verstraete, lies.verstraete@vives.be
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IHES and SDGs, two sides of the same coin?
Dr. John Style, Vice-rector for Internationalisation, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Spain
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As Universities are starting to own up to their mission in service to society and they are implementing their work and research on the UNESCO’s Sustainable Development Goals, the lines between the two grow fuzzier. At the URV, we have taken both IHES and the work on SDGs very seriously. Our institutional approach to the SDGs goes far beyond our institutional walls and is multiplied by our association with the Aurora European Universities Alliance. URV’s institutional approach should not be unique, it should probably not even be singled out. It should be common practice for all universities who take their three missions seriously. The institutional approach to the enactment of the SDGs by the URV and Aurora, together with practical examples, will be our contribution to the discussion.
Contact: Dr. John Style, john.style@urv.cat
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Sustainable Living Through Indigenous Practices
Dr. Anubha Singh, Vice-Chancellor, Alliance University, India
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The Centre for Social Impact and Research of a University located in suburbs of a metro city in rural India engages with the society to offer research-based holistic and sustainable solutions to some of the persisting environmental and societal issues by identifying areas of immediate attention and implement feasible solutions. The project encourages and empowers communities to attain “sustainable living” through indigenous practices backed by modern technologies as needed, encompassing the areas of education, health, water etc. The also collaborates with international partners with specific research objectives.
Contact: Dr. Anubha Singh, anubha@alliance.edu.in
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Dec 9, 13.00-13.45 CET
Closing Panel: “Quo vadis IHES? Collecting unusual ideas”
Chair: Dr. Uwe Brandenburg
Dr. Vangelis Tsiligkiris (Associate Professor of International and Digital Business Education, Nottingham Business School, Nottingham Trent University)
Jaana Puukka (Innovation Engage & GII)
Dr. Carlos Machado (Machado Consulting & GII)
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Dec 9, 13.45-14.00 CET
Closing of the IHES conference 2021
Uwe Brandenburg (GII)
Organiser
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