Focus on internationalisation of higher education institutions: Bologna Day 2024 takes a look at foreign-language study programmes
This year's Bologna Day, Austria's largest annual conference on the implementation of a common European Higher Education Area and central platform for networking as part of the Higher Education Mobility and Internationalisation Strategy 2030 (HMIS2030), was held on 20 March 2024 and focused on foreign-language study and teaching programmes.
Internationalised curricula contribute to an international environment at higher education institutions. Foreign-language teaching and study programmes are a fundamental component of comprehensive internationalisation efforts and an attractive offer for students from abroad, enriching the campus with diverse perspectives. The minister for education, science and research, Martin Polaschek, emphasised: "A broad range of foreign-language study programmes and courses contributes to the promotion of a comprehensive internationalisation culture, which is one of the goals we have set ourselves with the National Higher Education Mobility and Internationalisation Strategy 2020-2030 (HMIS2030). In addition, it is also an important building block for a future-oriented location policy that successfully aims to attract highly qualified students to Austrian higher education institutions in line with the RTI strategy."
The challenges and opportunities of these foreign-language programmes were examined from various angles at the conference, including the required language skills of teaching staff and students as well as the necessary adjustments in administration and the creation of an intercultural welcoming culture.
The Bologna Day also provided an opportunity to discuss the opportunities offered by courses taught in foreign languages to integrate international perspectives into study programmes. This could also create international learning experiences for those students who are unable to go abroad. Jakob Calice, managing director of the OeAD, which is organising the conference together with the Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research, emphasised the importance of a shared vision and common goals for the success of these programmes: "With the Bologna Day we do not only address those responsible for and implementing international relations but we also bring together study programme directors, supporting units for programme development and higher education didactics as well as the lecturers themselves. Only if all those involved develop a common understanding and common goals for their foreign-language programmes can programmes and courses be successfully converted or newly implemented."
With this in mind, the keynote speech by the Danish higher education expert Karen M. Lauridsen (Associate Professor (emerita), Aarhus University, and Centre for Higher Education Internationalisation (CHEI) at the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milan), "Teaching and learning through foreign languages: benefits, challenges and misconceptions", provided a substantive basis for the event. Contributions from students and representatives of all Austrian higher education sectors enriched the conference with valuable insights into the benefits, challenges and misconceptions of teaching and learning in foreign languages.
Around 120 participants exchanged views in thematic forums and discussed practical examples and approaches for recruitment, institutional requirements and teaching in the "international classroom". The documentation of the event will soon be published on the OeAD website and offers a comprehensive resource for higher education institutions and interested parties who want to promote an international culture at Austrian higher education institutions.
