Wirtschaftsuniversität Wien

WU International Short Programs (ISPs)

Through "International Short Programs", WU is expanding its portfolio of mobility offerings and providing students who cannot undertake a longer stay abroad with an attractive programme format.

Participants WU International Short Program

Objectives

Through "International Short Programs" (ISPs), WU is expanding its range of mobility options, thereby reaching student groups for whom a longer stay abroad is not feasible. The central objectives of the International Short Programs are: - To provide a wide range of mobility options, which also includes short-term mobility through the ISPs; - To specifically promote international academic mobility and thereby the acquisition of international experience and intercultural competencies for as many students as possible. The target group for the ISPs includes students from WU and the respective ISP partner institutions. The format particularly appeals to individuals for whom a longer-term mobility is not an option, whether due to financial reasons, caregiving responsibilities, or professional commitments. In addition to the aforementioned main objectives, the ISPs also pursue further goals: - Building, further developing, and strengthening partnerships. ISPs create an ideal foundation for establishing cooperation, developing partnerships, and capacity building. - Promoting faculty collaborations: the academic programme of the ISPs is designed by faculty from WU and the partner universities. Through intensive faculty collaboration, the groundwork is laid for ongoing projects, whether in teaching or research. The connection to strategic goals is evident in the strategic plan: "The close collaboration with reputable partner universities [...] makes it necessary to offer programme formats that enable short-term mobility (International Short Programs), in addition to the traditional semester abroad." "As a way of giving greater consideration to social inclusion in its international exchange relations, WU [...] will make a special effort to promote the mobility and international experience of previously underrepresented groups." (Strategic Plan WU, p. 25)

Background

WU has extensive experience in organising joint academic short programmes with partner universities. Through the brand "International Short Programs" (ISPs), these have been brought together under one roof, increasing their visibility for students. The ISP offerings from WU can thereby be positioned as a pillar of internationalisation alongside other formats such as study abroad semesters. The development process of the ISP programme format can be described as iterative: within the framework of the ISPs, some existing joint short-term programmes with partner universities are being developed further and harmonised, thereby establishing an attractive overall offering in WU's mobility portfolio. The strength of the ISPs lies in the fact that it is a centrally planned offering that directly contributes to achieving WU's mobility goals. This ensures the sustainability and funding of the programme. Decisions on the development and design of the ISPs involve: university management (Vice-Rector for Academic Programs and Student Affairs), Dean for International Affairs (academic responsible for international WU teaching programmes), and the International Office (central service unit for international collaboration, mobility and programmes). Regarding the external factors, the following conditions are particularly relevant for this programme format, which is based on intensive collaboration with a foreign partner university: interest in cooperation and the suitability of the programme format for the curricula of the partner university, as well as the political environment and stability in the host country.

(Implemented) Activities

1) Conceptualisation of International Short Programs (ISPs) ISPs are intensive academic programmes that enable participating students to deepen their academic and practical knowledge in an international and intercultural setting. The core elements of the ISP format have been defined as follows: - Cooperation format: joint development and delivery with partner universities - Programme content: in-depth exploration of a business-related topic, taking into account societal developments ("societal challenges"); development of content and teaching by faculty from all partner institutions, with a practical component provided by corporate partners/project work - Target groups: students from WU and the partner university/ies, focusing on (advanced) bachelor students - Target region(s) and venue: economically relevant regions (particularly target markets for the Austrian economy or emerging economies). ISPs take place at the partner's location and/or at WU; for European partners, the programme can be conducted in multiple locations - Duration: minimum of 2 weeks, ideally 3 weeks - Delivery: In-person format, online elements possible - Language of instruction: English - Funding opportunities/inclusion: possibility of financial support for participation (WU ISP Mobility Grant). 2) Planning and implementation Based on the ISP concept, the programmes are planned and implemented in detail. From March 1, 2023, to February 28, 2025, the following programmes took place: - Porto Sustainable Business ISP (2023 and 2024) - Bangkok ISP on International Business and Sustainable Development (2023 and 2024) - Buenos Aires Global Marketing Program (2024 and 2025) - Vienna Innovation Program (2023 and 2024) 3) Quality management: evaluation and integration of results into the new planning cycle All ISP programmes are evaluated, and the results are incorporated into the development of ISP programmes and the management of the overall portfolio in the following planning cycle.

Results

The results of the ISPs can be represented both quantitatively and qualitatively. Quantitatively, the ISPs at WU reached XXX students (from WU and partner universities) during the observation period (March 2023 to February 2025). Twenty WU students received financial support for participation, which underscores the inclusion aspect. A comparison of application numbers over time shows both the general attractiveness of the programme format and the continuously increasing interest. Therefore, an expansion of the ISP offerings through additional programme partnerships is already concretely planned for the upcoming programme cycles. Qualitatively, the added value of the ISPs is reflected in the results of the evaluations and the testimonials from participants. The recommendation rate across all ISP programmes in 2024 ("Would you recommend the programme to other students") stands at 98%. Ninety-five percent of participants indicate that their expectations regarding the relevant dimensions for ISPs were met (strongly agree/agree to "my expectations have been fulfilled regarding a challenging/interesting academic experience | experiencing and learning from cultural diversity | personal growth | benefit for future career"). This is also evident in the testimonials from students, from which the following two statements can be highlighted: "[...] it’s an amazing opportunity to grow on so many different levels. [...] develop important skills like adaptability, communication and problem-solving." (Participant ISP programme, Feb. 2025) "I feel like, during these 3 weeks, I grew as a person more than during my whole life. Being completely alone on a different continent with a different culture made me step out of my comfort zone." (Participant ISP programme, Feb. 2025) The impact on the acquisition of international competencies and the significance of the ISP programme format can thus be confirmed by the results presented.

Lessons learned

International Short Programs (ISPs) have established themselves as an important pillar among the international programme formats at WU and serve as a significant instrument for the internationalisation of studies, particularly for underrepresented student groups. Three central "lessons learned" can be highlighted: - Aspect of inclusion and motivation/incentives for underrepresented students: many students still do not consider participation in international programme formats as an option. The mere provision of additional programme formats, such as the ISPs, to engage these student groups is not sufficient on its own. There is a need for accompanying information and advisory services that reach students early on and demonstrate the value of international experience, whether on their own campus or abroad. This is related to the: - (Non-)Availability of data: particularly in the context of underrepresented student groups, the availability of data regarding the structure and background of participants, as well as non-participants in the ISPs, is of essential importance. Programme evaluations through participant surveys can provide insights into the key motivations for participation. However, further data and information are still needed to target the group of underrepresented students more effectively. - Cooperation aspects: the ISP programme format involves close collaboration between WU and partner universities. Long-term success of offerings in the ISP format depends on how well they integrate into the curricula of all partners (ISPs embedded in studies or recognition/credit transfer), as well as the presence of trust and flexibility. An important foundation here is also to create a supportive environment and institutional recognition for the participating faculty.

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