IMC Krems, University of Applied Sciences

IMC AWARDs: International Awards

Recognising the contributions of academic and administrative staff promotes a culture of global engagement and advances the university’s strategic objectives

The winners of the “IMC Awards” at the award ceremony

Objectives

The main objectives of introducing an international category to the "IMC AWARDs" are as follows: - To encourage staff engagement in internationalisation activities across teaching, research, and administration – the latter often being overlooked - To acknowledge exceptional contributions that support the institution’s strategic goals for internationalisation, including transnational programmes, student and staff mobility, partnerships, and international alliances - To promote wider participation by sharing examples of good practice and inspiring colleagues from both academic and administrative departments - To raise the institution’s profile by showcasing exemplary commitment and achievements in international collaboration - To formally integrate international engagement into staff recognition and reward systems, including financial incentives

Background

IMC Krems established the “IMC AWARDs” to honour staff members who have demonstrated exceptional commitment, dedication, and effort across various areas. These awards not only offer financial recognition in the form of a premium, but also increase internal visibility, inspire colleagues to strive for excellence, and foster a culture of high achievement. The “IMC AWARDs” comprise the following categories: - Science AWARD (one prize for each department) - Teacher of the Year AWARD - Teaching AWARD – Diversity and Sustainability - Teaching AWARD – Digitalisation in Teaching - Innovation AWARD - Team Spirit AWARD - International AWARD – Faculty - International AWARD – Service Departments

(Implemented) Activities

- Designing the award framework, including defining target groups and various award categories - Initiating a call for nominations - Setting up a fair evaluation process conducted by a jury comprising internal and external members - Collecting and reviewing submissions - Informing the winners of the results - Organising an award ceremony to publicly recognise the recipients - Communicating the award outcomes via the weekly “Friday News” newsletter, the website, and social media channels

Results

The introduction of an award in the field of internationalisation leads to several benefits: - It strengthens a culture of recognition and appreciation by highlighting the diverse ways staff contribute to international goals. This recognition increases motivation and institutional belonging among academic and administrative personnel who engage in global activities. - By showcasing best practices and innovative projects, the award supports peer learning. Staff members who might not have previously engaged in international work can be inspired to participate or develop new initiatives. - The award enhances the visibility of internationalization both internally and externally. Internally, it reinforces the strategic relevance of international cooperation; externally, it positions the institution as a forward-thinking and globally connected organization. - Collecting and documenting relevant activities builds a portfolio of valuable internationalization efforts, which can be used for accreditation processes or promotional purposes.

Lessons learned

- The awardees felt a strong sense of pride and honour. Many also shared their success on personal social media accounts, contributing to a very positive media response. - The number of nominations varied across the different categories. - In future, some categories may be added, merged, or further subdivided by department. -A large number of staff attended the event, and even those not receiving awards celebrated their colleagues’ achievements. - A similar or identical award is planned for the upcoming academic year.

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