Internationalisation of the Curricula

Internationalization of the curriculum is the incorporation of international, intercultural, and/or global dimensions into the content of the curriculum as well as learning outcomes, assessment tasks, teaching methods, and support services of a program of study.

Leask, 2015

Living and working in a globalized and interconnected world increasingly means facing challenges.

Internationalized curricula enable our students to develop global perspectives and think across cultures. FH Campus Wien understands how to take on the global challenges of our time in teaching and curriculum as our educational mission. Thinking in interdisciplinary, intercultural and transcultural contexts, promoting critical reflection and creativity, dealing with change and solving complex problems are all key competencies of the 21st century that can be promoted and strengthened through global learning.

As we strive for inclusive internationalization, it is important to us to enable all students, not just those who are mobile, to gain international, intercultural and transcultural experience during their studies. By embedding global, international and intercultural dimensions in our curriculum and teaching, students develop a global understanding of their own discipline as well as a critical and constructive approach to social change and future job demands.

In order to support teachers in the internationalization of the curricula, FH Campus Wien offers continuing education formats. In addition to the internationalization of the formal curriculum, FH Campus Wien promotes intercultural and transcultural learning in the context of extracurricular activities. An FH internal funding platform supports teachers who promote innovative and proven internationalization projects in their degree programs.

The FH Campus Wien International Day was established to promote dialogue on the internationalization of degree programs, teaching and higher education. It addresses all university stakeholders and brings together department and program heads, lecturers, international coordinators and interested employees of FH Campus Wien in order to focus on internationalization. It serves as an opportunity to exchange experiences and good practice examples. International experts provide input and inspiration in keynote presentations.

Past FH Campus Wien International Days:

October 11th, 2016 - „Students in Focus: Internationalization at Home“ 
Key Note: Elisabeth Brunner-Sobanski, FH Campus Wien

October 3rd, 2017 - „Internationalization of Curricula and Employability“
Key Note: Elspeth Jones, Emerita Professor of the Internationalisation of Higher Education, Leeds Metropolitan University, UK 

March 18th, 2019 - „Global Learning for all students and virtual exchanges”
Key Note: Prof. Dr. Jos Beelen, The Hague University of Applied Sciences,
Eva Haug, Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences

Extracurricular activities create an international campus atmosphere and enable students and staff to engage in international and intercultural exchange.

Buddy Program
The Buddy Program links international visiting students with local students, promotes exchange and dialogue and creates new friendships. FH Campus Wien students are available to visiting students to answer questions about studying at the university and to help them get settled in Vienna.

Campus Lectures
The free and publicly accessible Campus Lectures regularly feature international experts from research, teaching and the industry at FH Campus Wien. The lecture series offers valuable insights into current global issues.

Photo Competition
At the International Office Photo Contest, photos made by students, teachers and employees of FH Campus Wien are displayed and given awards. They tell exciting stories from the varied experiences during a stay abroad. They invite you to leave the familiar environment behind and take a step abroad.

Postcards from Abroad
In Postcards from Abroad, outgoing and incoming students as well as employees describe the most beautiful moments and challenges during their stay abroad. They share their experiences with the UAS community and let us take part in their stories and adventures.

Welcome Back Lounge
As the shortest route to oneself often leads around the world, the International Office organizes Welcome Back Lounges every semester in cooperation with the degree programs. The get-together is aimed at students who have returned from a stay abroad and those who are interested in going abroad themselves. In the Welcome Back Lounge, students reflect on the experiences gained during their study or internship abroad and the professional and personal perspectives of a stay abroad.

The international “Fördertopf” draws from internal university funds to support innovative and strategically important internationalization projects as part of the FH Campus Wien internationalization strategy.

The funding serves as acknowledgment and compensation for the extra work that is required for the internationalization of degree programs, departments and the university. A Best Practice Award recognizes particularly effective internationalization projects, raising the visibility of the associated commitment and the actors behind it.