Fachhochschule des bfi Wien GmbH

Certificate for Quality in Internationalisation (CeQuInt)

The UAS BFI Vienna degree programmes European Economics & Business Management, International Banking & Finance, Quantitative Asset & Risk Management were awarded the CeQuInt certificate.

Objectives

The goal was to have three degree programmes (Bachelor: European Economics and Business Management, Master: International Banking and Finance, Master: Quantitative Asset and Risk Management) awarded a CeQuInt certification in order to emphasise the internationality of the degree programmes and to anchor it sustainably through a methodologically sound external procedure. By implementing a quality-assured approach to internationalisation in individual degree programmes, this can be rolled out to the entire UAS BFI Vienna in the long term. In this way, the topic of internationalisation is comprehensively anchored as a cross-cutting issue and used as an instrument for increasing quality in teaching, research, and administration.

Background

Internationalisation activities have been a strategic focus and an integral part of curricular development at UAS BFI Vienna since its foundation. The Certificate for Quality in Internationalisation (CeQuInt) provides a methodology to make the quality of internationalisation at higher education institutions tangible. The certificate confirms that a programme has successfully integrated an international and intercultural dimension into the purpose, function, and delivery of its education. In the course of the project "Internationalising the Curriculum - Quality Assurance for International and Intercultural Competences" funded by the City of Vienna (MA23 Economic Affairs, Labour and Statistics), the CeQuInt methodology was discussed with various stakeholders responsible for degree programme management. Two master's programmes (International Banking and Finance, Quantitative Asset and Risk Management) and one bachelor's programme (European Economics and Business Management) were selected to undergo certification due to their already advanced internationalisation activities.

(Implemented) Activities

• Updating the internationalisation strategy of UAS BFI Vienna and developing a catalogue of measures (with representatives from teaching, research, administration, and students). • Development of Study Programme Internationalisation Strategies (SPInS) for each degree programme at the UAS, including anchoring in the relaunch process of the UAS degree programmes • Development of a recommendation for the formulation of internationalised course outcomes and information for teaching staff • Organisation of an international symposium on the topic of quality and internationalisation • Conducting workshops and continuing education events on interculturality, internationalisation of curricula and quality in internationalisation • Trips to Geneva, Groningen, Leeuwarden, Berlin, Bologna, Iasi, The Hague, Prague, Volda and Helsinki • New development and implementation of a teaching format for the preparation, accompaniment and follow-up of stays abroad (CREACT) • Creation of an offer for students to gain knowledge of the Chinese language and culture • Support for two degree programme development processes with a specific focus on internationalisation • Development of a system for the qualitative further development of the FH's international university partnerships (EQUATIC) • Extension of four double degree agreements • Standardisation of the use of English-language terminology at the UAS • Accompanying research on the topic of intercultural competence acquisition • Presentations of project findings at international meetings and conferences in Geneva, Helsinki and Leeuwarden

Results

The CeQuInt Certificates confirms that the programmes have successfully incorporated an international and intercultural dimension into the purpose, function, and delivery of their education. Through the revisions of the strategic documents (both UAS-wide and for the individual programmes), there is a clear and shared vision for internationalisation and a process to regularly evaluate and update it. Through the development of recommendations for the formulation of internationalised learning outcomes, there are guidelines for lecturers to implement internationalisation activities in the formal curriculum. By holding workshops with international partners at the UAS and participating in international conferences and staff mobility, it was possible to integrate a wide variety of perspectives into the discussion process and to expand the international and intercultural competences of the UAS staff. By implementing innovative course formats (CREACT, Chinese Language, Culture, and Business), it was possible to increase the range of international and intercultural competence acquisition for the students of the FH BFI Vienna. By developing a system for evaluating the international university partnerships, the overall quality of the partnerships was increased and a strategic partnership was identified. By developing a glossary of English-language terminology, many documents could be updated and standardised.

Lessons learned

Internationalisation is often seen as a "task" of the International Offices at universities. In a strategic context, it makes sense to view internationalisation as a cross-cutting issue and an instrument for quality assurance. This also helps in communication and discussion processes. The various cross-cutting matters of a higher education institution are strongly interrelated (at the FH BFI Vienna, they all contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals). Resources can be used more efficiently if those responsible for cross-cutting issues work more closely together. The intrinsic motivation of those responsible for degree programmes to undergo CeQuInt certification is decisive for sustainable success and further developments.