Fachhochschule Kufstein Tirol Bildungs GmbH

Internationalisation of the Curricula

A long-term investment in developing the knowledge and skills young people need in today's global (working) world.

Objectives

Enhancing and strengthening the internationalisation of curricula & Internationalisation at Home

Background

The curricula of all full-time Bachelor's degree programmes at FH Kufstein Tirol include a compulsory semester or year abroad, which is completed at a partner university of the FH Kufstein. The partner network comprises more than 200 partner universities and more than 300 outgoings are sent abroad every year. At the same time, approximately 200 incoming students complete a study abroad programme at the FH Kufstein.

(Implemented) Activities

Internationality is actively practised at the FH Kufstein Tirol, which is also reflected in the structure of the curricula. In addition to the compulsory semester abroad for full-time students, each Bachelor's degree programme teaches at least 20 percent of the courses in English, one Bachelor's degree programme has a 50 percent foreign language component and two Master's degree programmes are offered entirely in English. The acquisition of foreign language skills and intercultural competence is guaranteed at Kufstein University of Applied Sciences Tyrol, among other things, through the completion of study-integrated language modules in all Bachelor's degree programmes and at the same time serves as preparation for student mobility or for lectures in English. In order to ensure that the language modules offered are adapted as far as possible to the needs of the students (previous knowledge, objectives regarding a stay abroad, individual academic/professional objectives) and the organisational form of the degree programme, students take a placement test in English and, if applicable, in other languages before the start of the language module and submit their prioritisation regarding the choice of language, so that this information can be taken into account in the allocation of the language and the language level of the courses, or for recommendations of support measures. In order to be able to offer students a large enough number of choices as well as high-quality study abroad places for their compulsory semester abroad, the FH Kufstein Tirol has set itself the goal of offering approx. 30% more study abroad places per year than are required. Together with the degree programmes, a so-called double strategy is being pursued. The International Relations Office takes on the task of acquiring a sufficient number of partnerships for student mobility, while the degree programmes take on the task of striving for in-depth cooperation with selected partners through lecturer mobility and international cooperation projects. In addition to the compulsory semester/year abroad, every curriculum of a full-time Bachelor's programme also includes a compulsory professional internship, which can also be completed abroad. Professional internships that take place abroad are supervised by the degree programme as well as by the International Relations Office, as compulsory internships that take place abroad (EEA region) are funded by an Erasmus+ scholarship. Part-time students can also gain international experience, as an international study trip is organised for them by the degree programmes as an alternative to a longer stay abroad as in the full-time Bachelor's degree programmes. They can also complete their internship abroad. In parallel, around 200 incoming students take part in regular Bachelor's & Master's courses at the FH Kufstein Tirol every year as part of their exchange, as well as in the International Programme (IP), which is totally taught in English and has been created especially for them. Students who cannot or do not want to go abroad for personal reasons can also take part in the IP as part of the "Internationalisation at Home" programme, which also gives them the opportunity to experience "internationality" and at the same time creates and promotes regional internationality. Both the regular students and the region and town of Kufstein benefit from the international university environment and the international students. Within the framework of "Internationalisation at Home", the FH Kufstein also focuses on the inclusion of international lecturers in addition to the diverse range of language courses and foreign language courses. At the same time, FH Kufstein strives to create a "welcoming culture" for incoming students through special IP courses such as "German Language", "Austrian Culture and History" and "Doing Business in Austria", as well as its own buddy programme, which promotes and strengthens their integration in the long term.

Results

The internationalisation of curricula as well as the introduction of a compulsory semester abroad and the resulting mobility of students promotes the development of international and intercultural competences as well as the acquisition of culturally reflective skills. This is a long-term investment in the development of the knowledge and skills young people need in today's global (working) world.

Lessons learned

Evaluation forms and experience reports are submitted online to the students every semester and requested. The implementation of the collected findings is developed through a programme of measures.

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