Paderborn University started the renowned audit process "Internationalisation of Universities" of the German Rectors' Conference (HRK) on 1 December. The audit process began in December 2022 and will continue until November 2023.
Internationalisation – A Cross-Sectional Task
Internationalisation is a cross-sectional task that impacts the strategic development of all areas of Paderborn University, as well as continuously improving and expanding it. Focusing on international cooperation, transnational (scientific) exchange, and the acquisition of intercultural competencies, internationalisation aims to solve global societal challenges through innovation and aspires to find answers to the important questions of the future through collaborative problem-solving.
In order to promote and sustain these developments, Paderborn University successfully applied for participation in the audit "Internationalisation of Universities" of the German Rectors' Conference (HRK) in summer 2022. As of 1 December, the audit process was officially launched and will run until November 2023. The audit will help Paderborn University to define and further develop its specific international profile through a combination of self-reflection and external consultation.
A project group set up for the audit at Paderborn University will accompany and co-define the process – an initial meeting already took place in November, and further meetings will follow in the upcoming weeks. In May 2023, a team of external advisors will visit Paderborn University for a three-day audit on the basis of a self-evaluation report prepared by the project group. These international experts will then issue a written report for Paderborn University, giving recommendations on the further development of institutional internationalisation measures. In November 2023, the process will conclude with a consolidation workshop in collaboration with representatives of the HRK.
Ideal Prerequisites for Strategic Internationalisation
The audit's assessment of Paderborn University's internationality and of existing internationalisation measures regarding the University's own motives and institutional goals provides ideal prerequisites for the further development of Paderborn University's strategic internationalisation, as well as for the development and implementation of concrete future measures in defined fields of internationalisation.
Prof. Dr. Torsten Meier, Vice-President for International Relations and supervisor of the audit at Paderborn University, emphasises the excellent opportunity the audit poses for the University to further develop its international profile with the support of established experts in the field of internationalisation of universities. He goes on to say that the audit will strengthen the University's profile for the future: "We are looking forward to an exciting and insightful audit and would like to express our sincere thanks for the support of all areas involved in the process."
Further information on the HRK audit "Internationalisation of Universities"
