Conference Opening

DZS&MŠMT

Opening keynote

Sarah Ilchman, Co-president of Institute of International Education

Opening panel

Milena Králíčková, President of Czech Rectors' Conference, rector of Charles University
Michal Karpíšek, Secretary General at E³UDRES² European University, St. Pölten University of Applied Sciences
Laura E. Rumbley, Director for Knowledge Development and Research, EAIE
DZS&MŠMT

In March 2024 the European Association for International Education released the eagerly awaited EAIE Barometer (third edition) report. With 2817 responses from 46 EHEA countries, the report offers a comprehensive view of the health and vitality of internationalisation in European higher education from the perspective of frontline professionals in the field. This session will provide key takeaways from the report and a detailed look at the Czech responses in particular.

Laura Rumbley, Jody Hoekstra-Selten

A microcredential is an electronic record confirming completion of a small-scale learning unit expressed by ECTS credits and achievement of specific learning outcomes. A project (Improving the permeability of higher education through microcredentials) led by Charles University included all 26 Czech public universities. It has created a framework for the implementation of the concept in the Czech Republic in consistence with Europe enhancing cooperation in education at international level. The project should be finalized in the second half of this year. An important question is rising: „Where will the concept of microcredentials move in the Czech Republic this year?“

Markéta Martínková - CUNI

Blended student mobility offers significant opportunities for experimenting with new technologies and enhancing digital skills. It enriches the learning experience and prepares both higher education students and staff for a tech-driven and innovative life in academia and beyond. In this session, we will highlight institutional best practices and explore how to address the most prominent challenges. We will share practical tips and inspire participants to join the digitalisation wave! / BIPs offer exciting funding opportunities for summer schools, but they also present challenges for IROs in setting clear guidelines. Over the past three years, MENDELU has hosted 10 BIPs, experiencing both highs and lows. Join us to explore lessons learned, which include extensive communication between the rectorate and faculties to harmonize rules and content creation. We will also tackle ongoing challenges, such as enhancing online components, which are key to maximizing the effectiveness of BIPs.

Salome Dermati (Angeliki Psychogyiou) / Tereza Šmídová (Lenka Vivas) - European University Foundation / MENDELU

In today's globalized world full on international opportunities, an increasing number of students choose to study abroad. This desire to explore the possibility of an international education often starts in the early teenage years. In this pivotal stage, high school advisors and counsellors can steer them in the right direction. By leveraging their expertise and insights, students can navigate the complexities of international education pathways in an easier way. Partnering with counsellors can be beneficial for universities in many ways: counsellors can serve as advocates for universities, promoting their academic programs and opportunities to students and families, they can also play a vital role in guiding students through the application process, including selecting suitable universities etc. By working with high school counsellors, universities can engage with students early in their academic journey. Given that counsellors work with students on a regular basis, they have a good sense of students' needs. This makes them an invaluable resource for universities, who are keen to understand academic interests, preferences and aspirations of prospective students. There are of course aspects worth considering before engaging with counsellors, such as additional workload etc.

Martina K. Ferreira (Caleb House, Martin Hanker, Marta Hochmal)

The motivation of students to go abroad strongly depends on the information strategies and channels quality. In 2023, CU launched the new interactive platform ViaErasmus! which enables outgoing students to get concise, systematic and clear answers to key questions related to the Erasmus+. In my contribution, I will introduce ViaErasmus! as a tool for a smooth, efficient, and student & staff friendly administration of Erasmus+ students. Also, a practical guideline for a similar project creation will be shared.

Petra Šmídová - CUNI

In the first part, we will look at the current state of knowledge on gender-based violence in academia in European countries. We will explore the Unisafe 7P model, which enables universities to provide a safe environment for all. In the second part, we will explore the role that organizational ombudspersons may play in the implementation of the 7P model. We will work with practical examples collected by the Czech Network of Ombudspersons for Higher Education.In the first part, we will look at the current state of knowledge on gender-based violence in academia in European countries. We will explore the Unisafe 7P model, which enables universities to provide a safe environment for all. In the second part, we will explore the role that organizational ombudspersons may play in the implementation of the 7P model. We will work with practical examples collected by the Czech Network of Ombudspersons for Higher Education.

Petr Polák (Zuzana Andreska) - Czech Network of Ombudpersons in Higher Education

Managing the implementation of international projects, such as the European University Alliance, is challenging due to differing legislative, funding, and cultural contexts. Thus, achieving common objectives and project outputs represents a challenge for project management. An example is the EULiST alliance currently led by BUT. The presentation will share experiences from building the alliance, defining roles, coordination mechanisms, joint program accreditation, and human resource development.

Ladislav Janíček - VUT Brno

The panel discussion is going to focus on the point where providing additional services supporting the well-being of a student turn counterproductive, are not used or even ignored and therefore, the institution's resources (human and financial) are wasted. Moreover, overcaring does not provide support for development of the students’ own life skills and independence. Best practice will be shared by representatives of the International Offices at VŠE and Richard Ivey School of Business, Canada.

Marta Hochmal (Karolína Kaslová, Solomon Galindo) - VŠE

Resilience in higher education is more than developing crisis management plan. At Charles University, the tragic events of the December 2023 were a stark reminder of this point. How do we foster an environment that supports students and staff, and strengthens their ability to cope with stressful situations or significant disruptions? This presentation, based on the experiences and activities of the Resilience Centre CUNI, shows how the everyday practice of wellbeing, social safety and community engagement strengthens the resources that individuals can mobilize in crisis or stressful situations. Crucial components for development of resilient community is the awareness raising, education, community development and promotion of social inclusivity.

Jan Tesárek

Let us introduce you ARTEMIS app which is an online system for managing international students, volunteers and IRO coordinators. The main focus of ARTEMIS is to simplify the management of international students and local volunteers and their information in one place, offering features such as buddy matching, a mailing system, arrival information, statistics, data export and event management and much more! The application is available to everyone. + Introducing our innovative chatbot designed to assist international students by answering the most commonly asked questions. This pioneering tool, the first of its kind in ESN international to our knowledge, streamlines the information process, providing quick and accurate responses to student inquiries about navigating Prague or their host university. By automating the FAQ process, our chatbot significantly reduces the time and effort required to address each question individually, allowing students to access essential information effortlessly and efficiently. This project represents a major leap forward in utilizing AI to enhance the student experience and support international students in their journey through Prague.

Dominik Resl, Veronika Plchová, Richard Mazúr

BIPs are intensive in many ways: they are born by intensive collaboration of an international group of academics, they bring together diverse student groups to focus on expert tasks while building international teams, and they need support from internationalisation officers to thrive. It was the complexity of the endeavour that inspired us to share experiences, successes and failures giving voice to four perspectives: academic, student, strategic, and expert support ones. Join us to share yours!

Renáta Tomášková (Ida Andersson-Norrie, Gabriela Škorníková, Lada Klapuchová, Andrea Pokludová, Jonas Ålander) - OSU / Örebro University

The evolving landscape of higher education necessitates innovative approaches to equip students with practical skills and real-world experience. For applied universities, integrating challenge-based learning through the "touch and learn" principle has become increasingly important. This approach allows students to engage actively with their field of study, enhancing their learning experience and preparing them for future careers. To address student apprehension, particularly for international assignments in tropical forestry and regional development, a specific scholarship program has been introduced. This program supports student stays abroad, primarily in African and South American countries, where they collect data for their research, often connected to their final thesis. Supervised by experienced Czech academicians and conducted in collaboration with local institutions, these activities align with sustainable development goals (SDGs). The initiative ensures high-quality guidance, easing students' transition and highlighting the practical outcomes of their stays, including their relevance to future studies and careers.

Vendula Tvrdoňová (Lenka Zouhar-Ludvíková) / Lukáš Kala (Katerina Brzokoupilova) - MENDELU

The session will address policies and initiatives in Europe on leveraging the potential of international students to address skills shortages in the labour market. A holistic approach, covering career guidance, skills development, and network building, has been identified as a fit-for-purpose solution. After introducing the European policy context, the session will take a deep dive into DAAD’s Campus Initiative for International Talents, followed by thematic small group discussions of participants. / There are many international courses which prepare students for vocational or professional careers such as medicine, law, engineering or architecture. However, these careers are often very particular to a certain country - including the cultural norms, policy, legislation and language that makes working in other places difficult for those who are not from there. For example an architect trained in Germany in an international course might find it difficult to work in Japan. How can emerging courses in these professional subjects prepare students for global careers - providing them with the skills to be adaptable and well-rounded professionals? (I am looking to speak about these topics within a panel - I am happy for you to team me up with others who may have similar ideas).

Tanja Kreetz / Ryan Manton - DAAD / ARCHIP

This proposal explores the potential of short-term mobility programs as tools for internationalising higher education. These programs particularly benefit students facing barriers to long-term mobility and institutions aiming for broader student engagement and inclusion. Using the LangSkills international deaf and hard of hearing learners summer school as a case study, we demonstrate the unique benefits and opportunities for engaging a diverse student population and improving responses to their needs.

Lenka Tóthová (Tomáš Varga)

European nations have specific histories of migration (immigration and emigration). Our panel will introduce how the study of migration histories may enhance internationalisation of institutions of higher education. By reporting on our work in the international project Migration Narratives in European Media we will illustrate how the focus on migration affects institutional cooperation and makes participants aware of historical intersections and parallels that many Europeans are not aware of.

Markus Heide (Eva Antoszek, Solomiia Rozlutska) - University of Hildesheim

Join us for an engaging workshop that will introduce the PROFFORMANCE formative three-dimensional assessment tool, (Czech and English version), developed by a consortium of national agencies, ministries, universities and quality assurance agencies along with an outstanding group of experts. We will explore the supporting resources (Teaching Excellence Database, the International Teachers Awards, and the Course Portal).

Jan Beseda, Márton Beke

The idea of a legal entity has been significant within alliances since their establishment. The 4EU+ Alliance has created a legal entity to ensure equal rights for member universities, experiencing both advantages and disadvantages. In a workshop, this issue will be debated in a league format. Participants will be divided into two groups: proponents and opponents of the legal entity. Each group will have 10 minutes to prepare and select a speaker, followed by a 15-minute argumentation debate. This discussion aims to explore all perspectives on the legal entity question.

Karolína Šedivcová - CUNI

We will demonstrate a novel learning environment, eDoer, which uses AI and human expertise to improve learning and teaching in the digital space. This is done by reusing and structuring appropriate and openly available learning content to create curricula rapidly, and sharing these structured, quality controlled content and curricula globally with learners, who can customize their learning experience to their individual needs.

Gábor Kismihók (Carolin Eisentraut) - TIB – Leibniz Information Centre for Science and Technology

With the aim to highlight the existing inequalities when it comes to access to international mobility in higher education, but also to highlight the benefits of international mobility, the session will be divided in two interactive sessions. After an initial presentation of the Network, the ESAA alliance and ICM, a first simulation will allow participants to realise the inequalities persisting in mobility. Each one having a role with a list of criterias, will need to advance or stay back based on these (e.g. financial resources, situation of handicap, rural youth, recognition of curricula, conflict area...). After this, a short debriefing moment will take place. Another session will follow with sheets available containing questions calling for participants to highlight barriers to mobility, solutions/good practices and benefits of international mobility (skills, employment...)

Yassine Zarouk, Anezka Aubrechtova