Universities UK International (UUKI) have published a Handbook and Infographic on Internationalisation at Home (IaH).
With the UNESCO International Day of Education falling last week the handbook is a timely prompt as the Australian education year commences. It highlights the role education plays in fostering the global awareness of Australian students.
IaH deliberately embeds globally focussed learning experiences into locally delivered curricula – for all students to access the rich diversity of the international community. Broader than a lecture and tutorial series, IaH enhances academic studies and supports inclusivity, employability, sustainability and the progression of intercultural competencies.
THE IaH working group, in the Outward Student Mobility Network, was led by Dr Anthony Manning and Emma Marku at University of Kent. The open-source handbook is a resource to inform IaH strategy – bringing together global contributors and identifying best practice.
Jumping on a plane is not the only solution to student global learning (TKN 13 Sept 2023). IaH delivers a broad toolkit and range of strategies to bring the global classroom to the student – with the UUKI Handbook a valuable resource to both start and continue building a commitment to global learning.
Educators are increasingly operating in an environment that requires the promotion of sustainable practices, widening participation from traditionally under-represented backgrounds in global activities, addressing financial pressures, and ensuring inclusivity and belonging amongst its student cohorts. An operational commitment to IaH aligns well with achieving many of these institutional strategic objectives.
Recognising that educational institutions are diverse communities can showcase the benefits and value inherent in an international student cohort. The impact of IaH brings international dimensions closer to home in the local environment and student experience by accessing the expertise and lived experiences of the international student cohort.
UUKI reiterate IaH is important because:
- Students should experience a curriculum reflecting the diversity of local and international communities and feel included, enabled and empowered by their studies.
- It is an inclusive and accessible form of learning available to the broad student community, especially those for whom short term travel may not be possible.
- It supports development of critical thinking skills, global citizenship and employability skills – key resources for workforce development.
- It encourages knowledge diplomacy through collaboration, intercultural communication and networking between international and home students – leading to mutual understanding that builds international relations.
Education bringing diversity of international experiences into the classroom is global best practice across a range of accreditation and course professional requirements. IaH not only informs curricula development; it permeates the mission and vision of the institution – acknowledging all students are internationally engaged and all knowledge impacts the global community.
“Because if hatred starts with words, peace starts with education. What we learn changes how we view the world and influences how we treat others. Education must therefore be at the heart of our efforts to achieve and maintain world peace.” (UNESCO 29 January 2024)
So, while travel experience is valuable, it is only one educational tool. Understanding the view and thoughts of others can (and should) start at home. This robust grounding in global understanding will underpin and inform further global learning.
Download the IaH handbook here
Download the accompanying IaH infographic here
