Approved by the University’s Senate
on January 29th, 2021

ROMANIAN-AMERICAN UNIVERSITY
INTERNATIONALIZATION STRATEGY 2021 – 2025

1|PageInternationalization Strategy 2021-2025

Context ................................................................................................................................................................... 3
MISSION .................................................................................................................................................................. 3
Vision 2021-2025 .................................................................................................................................................... 4
Strategic Objectives 2021-2025 .............................................................................................................................. 4
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE 1. ESTABLISHING AND MONITORING PRIORITY DIRECTIONS FOR ACTION 2021-2025............................................................................................................................................................................ 5
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE 2. DEVELOPING INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE GREATEST MEDIUM AND
LONG-TERM IMPACT ON EDUCATION AND RESEARCH .................................................................................... 7
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF TRANS- AND MULTI-NATIONAL STUDY PROGRAMS ALIGNEDWITH THE UNIVERSITY'S RESEARCH AND EDUCATION PRIORITIES .................................................................. 9
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE 4. DEEPENING THE INTERNATIONALIZATION DIMENSION OF INSTITUTIONALRESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, DISSEMINATION AND VALUATION OF RESEARCH RESULTS...................... 11
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE 5. INCREASING THE NUMBER OF MOBILITIES, DIVERSIFYING THEM AND ENSURING
THE QUALITY OF MOBILITIES ........................................................................................................................... 12
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE 6. PROMOTING THE “HOME INTERNATIONALIZATION” PROCESS AND
STRENGTHENING INTERNATIONAL STUDENT EXPERIENCE ............................................................................ 14

2|Page1.

Context

The Romanian-American University has had an international dimension since its
establishment, the development of a specific strategy being one of the most important
activities carried out. From the first years of activity, the University could not be seen in astrictly national context. The mission of the university is closely correlated with the introductionof values and principles of the American education system in the Romanian university
environment. The Romanian-American University took into account the importance of
involving American professors and partners in the elaboration of study programs. International
professors were invited to organise courses at the University, and also to support with ideas
and actions some management activities. Also, at the Romanian-American University, theorganization of student mobility and summer schools in partnership with universities in the
United States and other countries is a tradition.
Internationalization is considered an important factor for the development and modernizationof the institution, especially due to the real circumstances at global and national level. In thelast 5 years, the internationalization process at the Romanian-American University has beenhighlighted by: expanding partnerships with entities from different geographical areas, suchas Europe, North and South America, Asia and Africa; increasing the number of mobility forstudents and for teaching and administrative staff; offering a significant number of courses
taught by international teachers; launching study programs taught exclusively in English;
improving the language skills of academic and administrative staff; expanding opportunities tostudy foreign languages; creating a truly multicultural environment.
The university's participation in the Erasmus + program is and will remain an important support
for the University and an essential component of the internationalization strategy 2021-2025.

2.

MissionInternationalization acts as a catalyst for the transformation of curricular activities within theuniversity, as a support for the integration of global knowledge and leads to an increase inawareness of the importance of international factors. In this manner, graduates will be
prepared for the international business environment, and the university will be able to be partof the international academic and research network.

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Vision 2021-2025

The internationalization strategy 2021-2025 is centered on the vision of the university andpromotes it: The university will continue its internationalization efforts in order toachieve the highest level of internationalization of a university in Romania.

4.

Strategic Objectives 2021-2025

For the period 2021 to 2025, the Internationalization Strategy of the Romanian-American
University considers the following strategic objectives:
Strategic objective 1. Establish and monitor the priority directions of action 2021-2025.
Strategic objective 2. Develop international partnerships with the greatest medium- and longterm impact on education and research.
Strategic objective 3. Creating trans- and multi-national study programs aligned with theresearch and education priorities of the university.
Strategic objective 4. Strengthening the internationalization dimension of institutional researchand development, dissemination and capitalization of research results.
Strategic objective 5. Increasing the number of mobilities, diversifying them and ensuring thequality of mobility.
Strategic objective 6. Boosting the process of "internationalization at home" and strengthening
the international experience of students.

4|PageSTRATEGIC OBJECTIVE 1. ESTABLISHING AND MONITORING PRIORITY
DIRECTIONS FOR ACTION 2021-2025
The Internationalization Strategy 2021-2025 aims to develop a proactive approach tointernationalization, which will complement and improve the university's core activities in
education and research. Internationalization is not an end in itself; our goal is to incorporate
the process of internationalization into everything we do.
The Internationalization Strategy 2021-2025 continues the previous actions, which it deepens
and diversifies, in correlation with the current and expected changes for the next five years in
the educational, research and labor market landscape at national and international level.
Therefore, through Objective 1, the Internationalization Strategy 2021-2025 aims to establish
priority directions of action in the short and medium term. These directions of action will bemonitored and evaluated periodically (annually), and will be reviewed and amended as
appropriate.
A set of indicators will be developed to measure internationalization activities. These may
include, but are not limited to, international rankings, number of joint international articles andpublications, teacher and student mobility, student involvement and satisfaction, international
student recruitment and attracting collaborative grants. We will promote and communicate theinternationalization activity. We will facilitate and support both internal and external events andconferences that showcase our international activities and attract visitors, thus enhancing the
profile and reputation of the university.
Development, implementation and monitoring of the Internationalization Strategy 2021-2025
is achieved through the significant contribution and support of the structures within the
Department of International Relations (Erasmus+ Office, American Programs Office,International Programs Office) and the Department of Asian Studies (Romanian-JapaneseStudies Center , Center for Romanian-Korean Studies, Center for Romanian-Chinese Studies,
Center for Romanian-Azeri Studies), under the coordination of the Vice-Rector in whose
portfolio are found the above mentioned structures.
Specific objections:- Development of a set of indicators for the continuous (annual) analysis of the implementationof the 2021-2025 Strategy.
- Review the set of existing procedures and methodologies that support the achievement of
the objectives of the 2021-2025 Strategy.

5|PageActions provided to achieve the strategic objective and specific objectives:- Development of a set of indicators for the continuous (annual) analysis of the implementationof the 2021-2025 Strategy.
- Changeing of existing procedures and methodologies and development of new ones tosupport the achievement of the objectives of the 2021-2025 Strategy.
- Intensify the internationalization of administrative support processes.
- Communicating the strategy internally (in the university and at national level) andinternationally.

6|PageSTRATEGIC OBJECTIVE 2. DEVELOPING INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIPSWITH THE GREATEST MEDIUM AND LONG-TERM IMPACT ON EDUCATION
AND RESEARCH
We will focus on deepening existing partnerships in education and research, ensuring thatthey are mutually beneficial. We will develop networks of partners, both geographical andthematic. We shall seek to develop new institutional partnerships with universities, companies,
non-academic and non-profit organisations and international bodies, where they align with theuniversity's strategic and / or academic priorities. Every time it is possible, international
activities will support and encourage responsible international partnerships and ensure lasting
collaborations.
Specific objectives:-

Increasing the number of partnerships with academic institutions by at least 10% in thenext 5 years.

-

Increasing the number of European business partners for internships by 15%.

-

Establish academic partnerships with at least two new top universities.

Actions provided to achieve the strategic objective and specific objectives:- Continuous monitoring and evaluation of existing partnerships, to what extent they contributesignificantly to the development of the university's strategic objectives for education andresearch.
- Strengthening existing partnerships that prove an essential contribution to the developmentof education and research components, by deepening and diversifying the activities carriedout in collaboration with these organizations.
- Creating a list of 5-6 countries and strategic organisations for active and dynamic
collaboration in education and research.
- Establishing knowledge partnerships with international organisations and companies, as wellas support facilities (business incubators) in order to promote the spirit of innovation andentrepreneurship in the university.
- Expanding internship opportunities abroad for students by identifying new business partners
to offer placements.
- Stepping up partnerships and stimulating collaboration within AACSB - Association to
Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, where the University is already a member. Active

7|Pageparticipation in events, networks of universities and business schools, discussions organised
by AACSB.
- Affiliation to the European Universities network, as well as maintaining affiliation andexploring opportunities to join other networks of international organisations relevant touniversity education, such as EAIE, NAFSA, EAEC, EUA, AUF.
- Implementation of the Global e-School Project started by Hanyang University in South Korea.
- Expanding and strengthening partnerships, mainly with universities and institutions in the
EEA, North America, South America, Asia, Africa, but also in other geographical areas. It is
desired to identify new partners to cover all areas of study offered by RAU, thereby areasonable number of mobility options can be provided to all students, regardless of
specialization.
- Exploring options for expanding partnerships according to the specificities of different
countries and regions (regions or countries not covered, countries prioritizing funding for
research activities, countries with an interest in terms of collaboration perspectives, countries
where universities manage to harmonize in an appropriate way the education system to theneeds and opportunities of the labor market or even are considered standard, countries where
universities apply efficient education systems in the delivery and assessment of skills in
entrepreneurship, languages, social and civic, digital environment or the use ofcommunication and content creation, etc.).
- Attracting new key partners from both Japan and South Korea.
- Developing the international dimension and visibility of RAU by getting involved in alliances,
networks and consortia of universities and joining affiliated organisations in the education area.
We want to continue participating, every year, in the most representative events, conferences
and fairs in the area of internationalization of education.
- Strengthening relations with non-EU partners and make them more effective throughexchanges of students and staff, organization of conferences, events, summer schools, shortterm programs.

8|PageSTRATEGIC OBJECTIVE 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF TRANS- AND MULTINATIONAL STUDY PROGRAMS ALIGNED WITH THE UNIVERSITY'S RESEARCHAND EDUCATION PRIORITIESWe will explore opportunities to develop a number of joint programs and to develop trans- andmulti-national activities aligned with our research and education priorities. We consider thecreation and joint teaching of individual programs (joint programs, joint delivery). We will focus
on establishing collaborative international teaching projects with our international partners. We
will also focus on multilateral opportunities involving multiple partners.
Specific objectives:-

Increasing the number of courses taught by foreign teachers by 25%-

Diversify the educational offer by introducing at least two types of programs-

Organizing two summer schools for Romanian and international students

Measures provided for meeting the strategic objective and specific objectives:- Regular evaluation and dimensioning of the study programs of the Romanian-American
University, with teaching in Romanian or English, based on the evolutions of the labor market
at national and international level.
- Diversification of study programe in English in collaboration with universities in othercountries (identified strategic partners) and develop new bachelor's / master's degree
programs in accordance with labor market needs, including Joint Degree programs in English
or Double Degree or the provision of educational products by other organisations.
- Development and internationalization of the curriculum by introducing new courses and by
consolidating the international content of the subjects taught in Romanian and English.
- Investigating the feasibility of creating a co-supervised doctoral school.
- Continuation of the program of extra-curricular courses with invited foreign professors fromdifferent geographical areas by involving all the structures involved in the international activityof the University.
- Organisation of summer schools by the Romanian-American University for Romanian andinternational students. The summer schools will bring together students and master students

9|Pagefrom the USA, Europe, Asia and Romania who will benefit from a rich program of studies andcultural and tourist activities.
- Development of short-term programs in international partnership; identifying opportunities forcollaboration in carrying out COIL (Collaborative Online International Learning) projects or
smaller ones (international project week), involving online collaboration between students andprofessors of RAU and partner universities, in which participants can benefit from virtual or
blended mobility.

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STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE 4. DEEPENING THE INTERNATIONALIZATIONDIMENSION OF INSTITUTIONAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT,DISSEMINATION AND VALUATION OF RESEARCH RESULTS
We will prioritize international collaborations that focus on the strongest research areas in theuniversity. The focus will be on bilateral partnerships, as well as on the promotion ofmultilateral research networks in certain areas of excellence. We will increase our research
results with international collaborators and seek to maximize the success rates of international
research projects. We will pay more attention to the dissemination and capitalization of ourresearch results at the international level, aiming to increase the visibility and reputation of theuniversity.
Specific objectives:-

Increase by 10% the international exposure of teachers in the next 5 years.

-

Increase by 20% in the next 5 years the international dissemination of scientific results,
through several ways, online and offline.

-

Increase by 10% in the next 5 years the number of proposals to participate in international
research competitions.

Measures provided for meeting the strategic objective and specific objectives:- Carrying out collaborative actions with international researchers for joint research andpublication activities.
- Exchange of academic expertise by inviting professors from partner universities or specialists
in business or research. Attracting and supporting by the university foreign teachers throughteaching or guest mobility.
- Participation of university researchers in efforts to implement joint proposals for research,education and institutional development, with partner organisations. Identifying newopportunities for international collaboration within various funding lines.
- Participation of university researchers in international conferences in the position of ("keynote speech", "invited lecturer")- Intensifying the visibility of the university by organising conferences and scientific events ofvalue and with international impact.
- Diversification of the activities of the NUT Office - Romania, opened at the RomanianAmerican University in partnership with Nagaoka University of Technology (Japan).

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STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE 5. INCREASING THE NUMBER OF MOBILITIES,DIVERSIFYING THEM AND ENSURING THE QUALITY OF MOBILITIESWe will aim to increase the number of students at all levels who complete a period of study or
volunteering abroad. We will increase the mobility opportunities of teaching and administrative
staff to support professional development and strengthen international partnerships. We willcontinue the program of attracting foreign professors for activities within the university. We will
also aim to develop non-geographical mobility through digital collaboration with ourinternational partners.
Specific objectives:-

Increase by 25% the number of RAU students applying for ERASMUS + scholarships.

-

Increase by 25% the number of teaching and training mobilities for the academic, research
and administrative staff of URA.

Measures provided for meeting the strategic objective and specific objectives:- Assuring the implementation quality of mobility projects. In this regard, the RAU is committed
to ensure compliance with the principles of the Erasmus Charter on equal opportunities, theinclusion of participants with limited opportunities, the full recognition of mobility results;
pursue the priorities of the program in terms of digitization, sustainability, civic engagement,
encouraging participants with limited opportunities; disseminate in a sustained manner thepriorities and results of the new Erasmus + Program; to ensure the regular information of theacademic community and of the partners regarding the international events to be organisedin the university; to ensure efficient and quality support for all participants; to intensify themethods of disseminating the experiences of teachers and students, encouraging them tobecome Erasmus + ambassadors; to encourage dialogue between young people andeducational decision-makers.
- Organising events by the university for the presentation of the educational offers of thepartners, of the information sessions about the Erasmus + program, in order to ensure thatthe participants are well prepared for the mobility. Mobile participants, students or staff,
incoming or outgoing, are encouraged to become ambassadors of the Erasmus + programand are invited to information activities (info session, Student Exchange Fair), events
organised every semester during the selections; similarly, the representatives of the partner
universities that are at RAU during these events are encouraged to promote the educational
offer of the home universities. It is desired the involvement of all university staff in promoting
to students exchange programs for studies and placements.

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- Maintaining the high level of assistance provided by the Erasmus + Office from our university
to beneficiaries of outgoing and incoming mobility in preparing for mobility, obtaining visas,finding accommodation and insuring them; reintegration into the academic community;
recognition of training and / or teaching activities; dissemination of mobility results.
- Providing mobility opportunities for students so that the level of satisfaction of applications is
maximum for students who meet the minimum conditions for such an approach and are
declared admitted following the selection process.
- Adequate dissemination of study and practice opportunities abroad. It is also considered toencourage new types of mobility (such as short-term), but also mobility for graduates, which
can be used more consistently.
- Dissemination of opportunities for outgoing staff mobility.
- Development of a good practice guide for staff mobility focused on teaching methods.
- Periodic assessment of training needs, in general the priority directions being: curriculardevelopment; management of international cooperation or research projects; development oflanguage and intercultural skills; development of entrepreneurial skills.
- Digitization of mobility activities, RAU aligning with the directions outlined by initiative of theErasmus Without Paper.
- Permanent preparation and updating of support materials for mobility: annual preparation
and updating of the study guide for exchange students; preparation of new leaflets, brochures,
flyers, posters, promotional videos for international audiences; creating a half-yearlynewsletter that includes all the international events that will take place in the university (thenewsletter will be addressed to all students, teaching and administrative staff and RAU
partners).
- Continuous improvement of language skills of teachers, researchers, administrative staff andstudents. Organise annual training programs to support staff in improving the level of English
and / or other languages or in developing an international perspective.

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STRATEGICOBJECTIVE
6.
PROMOTINGTHE“HOME
INTERNATIONALIZATION” PROCESS AND STRENGTHENING INTERNATIONALSTUDENT EXPERIENCESpecific objective:- Increase by 15% the number of incoming mobility for students- Increase by 10% the number of incoming mobilities for teachers- Intensify the interaction between incoming students and RAU students by organisingat least one annual event
Measures provided for meeting the strategic objective and specific objectives:- Improving the multicultural atmosphere through various actions and events: Organisingvarious multicultural events that can facilitate international communication and cultural
integration; Events such as International Week, Japanese Culture Days, study trips to Korea
and Japan.
- Stimulating the participation of administrative staff in courses of foreign teachers offered by
RAU on campus, which will contribute to the development of an international environment anda better understanding of the intercultural reality.
- Promoting the exchange of academic expertise by inviting professors from partner
universities or specialists in the business or research environment, which will also increase
the quality of the teaching process.
- Continuing the program of extra-curricular courses with foreign teachers, by ensuring a
constant number of extra-curricular courses throughout the academic year, including byorganising online courses. The aim is to increase the number of students participating in extracurricular courses, by intensively promoting them through social networks, posters, digitaladvertising and e-mail. It is desired to include all academic staff in the promotion of extracurricular courses.
- Organising various multicultural events that can facilitate international communication andcultural integration.
- Involvement of students in the organisation of cultural events, events in which exchange andinternational students are invited to participate and to present traditions, customs, folk
costumes or traditional products from the country of origin.

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- Encouraging and promoting virtual and blended mobilities, and organising international
project week, involving online collaboration between RAU students and students of partner
universities in carrying- out practical projects.

RECTORPRESIDENT OF THE SENATE

Prof.univ.dr. Costel NEGRICEA

Prof.univ.dr. Ovidiu FOLCUȚ

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