Internationalisation strategy 2021 of the University of Graz
Introduction
The University of Graz is firmly embedded both in its region and in international networks. Our
employees and students enjoy the advantage of our links with partner institutions throughout
the world, from strategic partner universities and from our membership in international
networks. Internationalisation is enabling us to make our ambitions a reality, achieving
excellence in teaching and research, and addressing our responsibility towards society. Our
goal is to advance research and teaching at our university through internationalisation, incollaboration with our academics, researchers and students in the faculties, as well as
colleagues in administration, to make our university an attractive place to work and study.
Internationalisation measures enhance study programmes, teaching and research, and ensure
the university is well integrated in the international research community. As one of Austria’s
largest universities, the University of Graz has for several decades now encouraged all
members of the university to engage in international academic discourse, in both European
and global contexts.
Our efforts are focused on intensifying our networks and collaborations and developing theappropriate strategies and instruments. Our strategic partnerships and the Arqus alliance playa particularly important role in this. These enable us to promote excellent research andteaching, and are of benefit for internationalisation at all levels of the university’s activities.
International collaboration is essential for further development of research excellence, and toenable us to reflect as a university on the current and future challenges facing our society, andcontribute actively towards finding solutions.
Conscious of our social responsibility as a comprehensive university, we aim to create andcommunicate sustainable perspectives in a globalised world which faces cross-borderchallenges. We empower our students and equip them to help shape the world of tomorrow.
Their active involvement in the international academic community is not only of benefit to them
– they also contribute to its further development.
In committing itself to this standpoint the University of Graz aims to work with all individuals
and groups in our faculties and departments to achieve the objectives of thisinternationalisation strategy.

Internationalisation objectives
As an internationally oriented institution for education and research the University of Graz willintensify its collaborations with high-achieving research and teaching universities all over theworld, and continue to enhance its attractiveness and reputation. We aim to offer optimal
support and ideal conditions to all members of our university, to ensure thatinternationalisation becomes a permanent feature of our university and consequently in ourregion. We work with outstanding partner institutions and together we are researching for
the world of tomorrow.
To this end, the University of Graz has set the following objectives for internationalisation:

Further development of study programmes and teaching throughinternationalisation
The opportunities already created by internationalisation in both learning and teaching will be
more integrated. Educational projects should increasingly be designed such that they could
form a basis for subsequent research cooperation. In teaching and curriculum development,
theexisting

opportunities

will

beexpandedwithotherschemes

such

as

internationalization@home, global windows and blended mobility. To complement physicalexchanges, and in close collaboration with the faculties, there will be increased use of digitalcommunications media as a way to aid the further internationalisation of teaching andlearning. The use of hybrid teaching formats with international content and components will
help students to understand the global context of their studies and to benefit frominternational discourse in a range of multilingual formats.

Excellent research through internationalisation
Successful research requires extensive international dialogue and good international
cooperation programmes. Internationalisation is a key element of these activities,
strengthening research and embedding it in an international context. Within our particular
Fields of Excellence we already have a well-developed international network for collaboration
and research, offering the latest research infrastructure, and over the next few years we will
expand this further.
With its commitment to internationalisation, the University of Graz aims to move into newareas of research, and to enhance research excellence through involvement in international
research projects. Not only academics in broad-based areas of research, but also researchers
working on self-initiated projects will find it helpful to be involved in internationalisation
schemes. Internationalisation and collaboration with strategic partner universities andalliances help to energise research programmes.
International initiatives for doctoral studies will be further intensified and early career
researchers will be even better integrated into international research cooperation projects,
providing an outstanding basis for their future careers.

Societal engagement through internationalisation
With its expertise in research and teaching our university contributes to the analysis ofsociety’s current and future problems, and to devising viable solutions. Internationalisation
plays a key role in this. We take a pro-active approach to societal engagement, both in theregional context and internationally, and accept the responsibility we have for active
participation in the wider world.
Working in close collaboration with our international partner institutions in fields such assustainability and climate change we are working to improve life not only for ourselves, butalso for future generations. Future options for physical mobility programmes will be brought
more consistently in line with aspects of sustainability than previously. This is linked to ourresponsibility to reflect constantly on our university’s activities, and to develop these further.
In addition, we want to actively model the outcomes we aim to achieve, through expert andresearch-led engagement in various levels of society.

Strengthening the institutional structure through internationalisation
Our foundation is based on integrating internationalisation throughout our institution: With
close cooperation between all areas of the university a step-by-step programme forinternationalisation of research and teaching is being developed, and thus becoming anintegral component of the university’s structural framework.
To determine the impact of various measures at university level, as well as at faculty,
institutional and department level, this programme will be internally evaluated and then finetuned within the university, so that the findings can be used for further developments.
Evaluations in the international context within our university partnerships and cooperation
projects will help to sharpen the university’s profile and attract cooperative projects that areoriented towards our interests and focus areas, thereby enhancing excellence andinternational visibility both for the University of Graz and for our partner universities.