Internationalization of universities: strategies for the future!

Internationalization of universities: strategies for the future!

The internationalization of universities is a central theme in Germany's academic landscape. Today, May 22, 2025, the role of international student mobility, teaching and research is increasingly coming into focus. The HRK audit on internationalization takes place at the University of Hildesheim, which serves the strategic further development of the university's international orientation. Loud University of Hildesheim The audit aims to compare the university in a national and international context and to identify necessary measures to sustainably anchor internationalization.

A central concern of the audit is the individual needs of students as well as academic and teaching staff. The workshop showed that “internationalization at home” is becoming increasingly important. This is supplemented by shortened stays abroad and local formats to promote exchange. The university also focuses on supporting international students who face challenges such as language barriers and bureaucratic hurdles.

Strategic partnerships and challenges

Strategic partnerships with international universities are another important aspect that is intended to strengthen mobility and research collaborations. However, the recognition of academic achievements is a challenge that is regulated by the Lisbon Convention. In order for students to be sure that their stays abroad will be counted, cooperation between the various institutions and politicians is essential.

The audit project group was launched in January 2025, followed by well-attended workshops in February. The self-report on the university's internationalization was submitted to the University Rectors' Conference. On June 17th and 18th, HRK experts will visit the university to develop recommendations that will serve as the basis for a comprehensive discussion and an internationalization strategy until 2026.

Positive development through audit programs

The “Internationalization of Universities” audit, which has existed since 2009, has now supported 111 universities and has established itself as a quality assurance instrument. The HRK offers tailor-made advice with various formats, such as “Compact Audit” for universities with fewer than 10,000 students. In addition, the program has been expanded to include support formats for smaller universities that are tailored to specific challenges, such as hrk.de reported.

These developments are in line with the new strategy for the internationalization of universities in Germany, which was adopted by the Conference of Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs on June 14, 2024. This strategy defines four central areas of action: universities as engines of international mobility, improvement of legal and structural framework conditions and international cooperation. Such initiatives are crucial in order to enable and strengthen universities in Germany a sustainable and strategic orientation at the international level.

Overall, continuous internationalization aims to raise the quality of teaching and research to a new level, which represents a long-term task for the institutions involved. The exchange of international experiences and the structural anchoring in the curricula are recognized as the cornerstone of successful higher education in the globalized world. This comprehensive perspective on the challenges and opportunities of internationalization also has far-reaching significance for future generations of students bildungsserver.de.