2022-12-02 –, Workshop 1 (Turing), BBAW
This interactive workshop is aiming to bring together higher education internationalization practitioners and digital education specialist from across – possibly beyond – Europe in order to discuss quality and success of digital international collaboration. One outcome of this session may be a digital community of practice to keep the conversation going and progress the issue.
After more than two years of intensive experience in digital internationality, insights can be drawn not only into digital teaching but also into collaborating in diferent international contexts—at home and abroad. We have all learned that preparation and choosing the right tools are just as relevant in the digital space as in the physical, and intercultural differences can be just as challenging in the virtual realm as in presence. Furthermore, by choosing the right tools, methods and digital platforms, we can considerably increase engagement with international experiences, making collaborations more meaningful, participatory, and equal.
We will use two brief examples to illustrate how the principles of participation and equality can be embedded in digital internationalization. Based on a number of international teaching and project experiences, we will present how collaboration can actively involve universitiy members of all status groups and succeed to create community and partnership in European and global contexts. The second example looks at the Erasmus+ funded project DIGIPASS, a virtual learning environment which was designed to enhance the student mobility experience and widen participation among under-represented groups. Through an exchange of experiences among participants we will identify success factors, building blocks and tools for good digital international (teaching) collaboration. Participants in this community-led workshop will be facilitated to focus on quality enhancement of digital international collaboration, with the aim of broadening everyone’s perspectives. Our goal is to start a digital community of practice for future exchange on participatory international collaboration, which can serve as a future knowledge-sharing hub. We also aim to begin the design of open-access resources that can support those working in the field to increase the accessibility and equality of their initiatives.
Katharina Schmitt has been active in the internationalisation of universities for close to twenty years. She headed the International Office at the University of Greifswald, worked for the College of Global Studies at Arcadia University (Philadelphia) and the International Affairs Department at the University of Bonn. For TU Dresden, she established the Staff Unit Internationalisation and is now pursuing the development of a truly international, responsible campus with a committed community.
Shane has worked across multiple higher education areas including research, teaching and global engagement for over a decade. He is the Global Projects Officer for the Global Office at University College Dublin, where he manages projects connected to the UCD Global Engagement Strategy as well as key funded opportunities including Erasmus+ partnerships for cooperation. He is particularly interested in stakeholder engagement and creating opportunities for global engagement at home.