Aurora Mobility and Internationalisation Feature Significant Developments

Aurora made important progress in mobility and internationalisation during the Aurora Spring Biannual held in Naples this May. These key advances were undertaken within Aurora 2030 Work Package 8 (WP8) for Enabling Mobility and Exchange, led by Marina Vives of Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV) and Nanna Teitsdóttir from University of Iceland.

During the task team meeting, several universities have presented their institutional mobility plans. Key updates on mobility and internationalisation include the publication of the Aurora Mobility Guidelines for all Aurora universities and a Course Fact Sheet to support student mobility opportunities. The short-term mobility process description and the Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) Handbook are also nearing completion. In addition, Marina and Nanna highlighted some relevant achievements and announced some changes on the composition, as well as upcoming initiatives.

Celebrating Collaborative Success

The meeting offered an opportunity to reflect on successful past events such as the recent Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) fair and COIL training organised by WP8, attracting over 70 participants. Additionally, the SUCTI (Systemic University Change Towards Internationalisation) training in Tarragona received positive participation and feedback. Looking ahead, future initiatives will include a sub-task on inclusivity, focusing on the inclusive mobility report, a students’ empowerment training, a BIP capacity development for instructors and an Intercultural Communication training for teachers.

The group also highlighted the great contributions by Barbara Tasser of Universität Innsbruck since the beginning of Aurora. Barbara will cease her participation in the WP8 from Fall on, given an internal re-distribution at the university level. Other changes within WP8 include:

• Verena Heuking of University of Duisburg-Essen, who will now co-lead Task 8.3 on Internationalisation of Institutional Cultures substituting Marina Casals, who has left the URV
• Valeria Constantino of Università Federico II of Naples will join Task Team 8.1 to Increase Mobility and Standardise Procedures
• Larissa Jenewein of Universität Innsbruck has also joined Task Team 8.2 on Internationalisation at Home
• Martina Buráňová, starting July 2024, will now be the contact person for Palacký University Olomouc, replacing Marek Sekanina.