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Movetia launches second Train-The-Trainer module for internationalisation

Thursday, 17 August 2023

In addition to the staff members responsible for international exchanges, university staff members from the fields of teaching and research also have a significant multiplier function in the internationalisation process. Under the initiative of Movetia and in cooperation with the University of Geneva, the continuing education module “SUCTIA – Systemic University Change Towards Internationalisation for Academia” was held for them from 26 to 29 June. The group of 10 participants consisted of lecturers and researchers as well as specialists in international affairs from all three types of higher education institutions, namely universities, universities of applied sciences and universities of teacher education.

Being tied up in teaching and research activities and with scarce time resources, academic university staff often do not get the chance to undertake an exchange visit abroad and gain new impetus for their work from an international environment. Compared to student mobilities, the number of faculty mobilities (SUCTIA Report, page 71, linked below) has decreased across Europe over the past fifteen years. In order to counteract this trend, it is necessary to find new ways to ensure that the international exchange of knowledge for lecturers and for higher education in general can be sustained and remain intact. It can even be brought “home” to us from the international arena.

Internationalisation at home: Training for lecturers and researchers
SUCTIA is a follow-up project to SUCTI funded by the Erasmus+ strategic partnership program. The Train-The-Trainer workshop was conducted at the University of Geneva by two highly experienced trainers, Joanna Domagala, SUCTIA Manager and Uwe Brandenburg, Director of the Global Impact Institute. 

While SUCTI is designed for university staff working in administrative positions and addresses internationalisation and intercultural communication as key topics for student mobilities, SUCTIA is designed for the working fields of lecturers. It covers topics such as the internationalisation of teaching and learning, the added value of international educational cooperation, the links between internationalisation and research, and the key success factors for establishing international institutional partnerships.

Movetia is further developing its range of services with this training. In addition to promoting mobilities and cooperations, the aim is to strengthen the international transfer of knowledge and exchange on current international education topics. Entirely in keeping with the principle of learning from the best, international ties will be established with internationalisation experts in order to facilitate the exchange of knowledge for Swiss education institutions to an even greater extent.

The Zurich University of Teacher Education, the University of Applied Sciences Grisons, the University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland, the BEJUNE University of Teacher Education, the University of Basel, the University of Lausanne, the University of Geneva and the Zurich University of Applied Sciences have all benefited from the SUCTIA offer and through their participation.