Globus
Globus

Internationalisation for top research and excellence in teaching

Intensive international contacts and global networking in research and teaching are central to an excellent university

Internationalisation and increasing international visibility have been a major goal of the University of Konstanz for several years. In doing so, the university has already achieved a very high degree of internationalisation at various levels. However, internationalisation is not an end in itself; rather, as a cross-sectoral area, it is a means to an end for certain strategic goals. The comprehensive goal of internationalisation at the University of Konstanz is first of all its integration into the structures of global science, research and teaching in order to ensure the long-term competitiveness of the university in the global context. This implies that internationalisation must be implemented at all levels and in all structural elements of the university. In addition to an internationalisation of teaching as well as science and research, internationalisation also includes administration and support services, an internationalisation of the campus and the university's relations with society.

In order to further develop internationalisation as an important cross-sectoral task, the University of Konstanz has the following goals:

  • To further increase the international visibility of the university
  • To further increase the number of outgoing and incoming students
  • To further expand the internationalisation of science and research at the institutional level
  • To adapt the university structures more strongly to the effects of internationalisation
  • Shaping internationalisation as a social responsibility
  • Internationalisation and digitalisation

The University of Konstanz already has a high degree of internationalisation in study and teaching (e.g. 44% of graduates have study-related international experience) and comprehensive incentive structures for student mobility, an extensive network of international partner cooperations, excellent support structures (for outgoing, incoming, degree-seeking students), an excellent Welcome Centre (for international reseachers), experience in international networks (e.g. YERUN) and researchers with excellent international networks. Furthermore, the University of Konstanz is member of the 'European Reform University Alliance' (ERUA).

Based on this, internationalisation will be further expanded in the following four areas:

Internationalisation of Teaching

  • Increasing outgoing mobility
  • Increasing incoming mobility
  • Double degree programmes and joint PhD programmes
  • Internationalisation of curricula
  • Expansion of teaching in foreign languages
  • Digital formats (virtual exchange, virtual guest lectureships, pooling of virtual seminars for incoming and outgoing students)
  • Flexible mobility options such as short programmes (summer schools, research internships, service learning, virtual modules)
  • Recruitment of international degree seeking students
  • Further internationalisation of teacher training programmes

Internationalisation of Research

  • International networks, e.g. YERUN
  • Strategic cooperation in research
  • Systematic support of international research cooperations
  • Increasing international mobility of early career researchers and established researchers
  • Outgoing Centre to support international mobility of researchers

Adjustment to the Effects of Inter-nationalization

The University of Konstanz does already have a high international diversity of students, researchers and administrative staff. Therefore, the university has to adjust its structures in order to respond to the effects of internationalisation.

  • Internationalisation of the campus
  • Expansion of support structures
  • Language policy
  • Seminars on intercultural communication at various levels
  • Seminars on leadership in heterogeneous teams
  • Reflection on different academic systems

Internationalisation and Social Responsibility

Excellent science is located in a social context. Thus, science, research and teaching have an impact on society and imply social responsibility. This is also reflected in the University of Konstanz's broad understanding of transfer. The social responsibility of the University of Konstanz has significant implications for internationalisation. The following aspects will be considered in the area of internationalisation and social responsibility.

  • Internationalisation and sustainability
  • Cooperation with the city of Konstanz in the "International City of Konstanz" project
  • Capacity Building
  • Support for scholars at risk and students
  • Service learning and international community projects
  • Expansion of internationalisation in various regions (discourse on 'selective internationalisation')
Informative graphic about Internationalisation at the University of Konstanz. It contains four main pillows, which are interacting:1. Internationalization of Teaching. We offer international exchange in teaching for students and researchers byshort or long term incoming and outgoing mobility, internationalizaition of curricula by offering double degrees, English teaching, international lecturers, and also digitalized virtual teaching accessible from anywhere. 2. Internationalization of Research. This pillow includes a centralized internatinal research management, our International research coooperation, incentives for outgoings as the Outgoing Center, our widespread networks and digitalization in internationalization. 3. We adjust to the effects of internationalization in education and research by integrating early career researchers, a modern language policy and welcoming support structures, internationalization of our campus, heterogeneous teams and holding of intercultural seminars. 4. In our internationalization we account for our social responsibility by including sustainability in our programs,, supporting scholars at risk, building capacity and holding discourse on Selective Internationalization.
Internationalization strategy graphic