Internationalization Capacity Building
In addition to the IAU’s Higher Education Internationalization Advisory Services (HEIAS) programme, the IAU offers other opportunities for internationalization capacity building. Ongoing opportunities may be seen below.
IAU - EAIE Internationalisation Leadership Dialogue
The 2026 IAU-EAIE Internationalization Leadership Dialogue will take place on 8 September 2026 at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, Scotland.
Theme: Leading Internationalization in Turbulent Times
Location: University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland
Date: Tuesday 08 September 2026
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Theme: Leading Internationalization in Turbulent Times
Location: University of Gothenburg
Date: Tuesday 09 September 2025
Internationalisation and global engagement in higher education are complex and constantly evolving phenomena, the approaches to which vary widely depending on institutional, national and regional contexts. What is similar across contexts, however, is the turbulent environment in which higher education institutions operate. Indeed, today’s unprecedented era of polycrisis presents significant challenges and opportunities for carrying forward effective and transformational internationalisation strategies. It thus requires energised and empowered senior internationalisation leaders.
However, those with seniormost responsibility for the internationalisation / global engagement portfolio at their institutions often operate without easy or regular access to peers facing the same complex circumstances. As such, they require substantive opportunities to connect with such peers in order to reflect, exchange ideas and explore creative solutions to achieve desired outcomes.
The EAIE-IAU Internationalisation Leadership Dialogue was specifically designed to address this need: providing a meaningful opportunity for participants to strengthen their peer networks and engage in candid conversation with colleagues who share similar high-level responsibilities.
Trusted partners
The International Association of Universities (IAU) and the European Association for International Education (EAIE) are globally recognised organisations with deep expertise in the field of higher education internationalisation. They share a common understanding of internationalisation of higher education as an intentional process undertaken by universities and other higher education institution to improve the quality of education and research and, ultimately, to achieve a better, more equitable world. The University of Gothenburg is one of the largest and most wide-ranging universities in Northern Europe. Situated in Sweden’s second-largest institution and with approximately 56,000 students and 6,600 employees, it offers a vibrant academic environment across seven faculties and 38 departments.Download the programme description here.
Read IAU Reflections from the 1st IAU EAIE Internationalization Leadership Dialogue.
2026 IAU-EAIE LInternationalization Leadership Dialogue in Gothenberg, Sweden.
Past Capacity Building Programmes
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In collaboration with the UNESCO Chair "Internationalization of Higher Education and Global Citizenship" of the University of Guadalajara, the IAU is pleased to offer an online diploma in the Autumn of 2024 on the "Management of the Internationalization of Higher Education" specifically designed for the context of higher education institutions in Latin America and the Caribbean; Sub-Saharan Africa; and the Middle East, North Africa and Gulf Countries.
Throughout the course, the following themes are centrally discussed:
Strategies for the design, planning and management of a comprehensive internationalization process
Strategies and management of student mobility
Internationalization of the curriculum
Internationalization of research
Promotion and management of international cooperation
Promotion of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and global citizenship
To learn more about the Online Diploma in Internationalization Management in Higher Education, please visit the project website here.
The first edition of this project ran from September 2023 to December 2023. Courses were conducted completely online and in English and Spanish.
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The Network of Universities from the Capitals of Europe (UNICA) and the International Association of Universities (IAU) jointly offered a masterclass entitled “"What Does it Mean to be a Vice-Rector or Vice President for internationalization?”"
In the era of globalization, internationalization of higher education has become inevitable. Institutions develop deliberate internationalization strategiesto improve the quality of education, research and service to society. Thisrequiresthe full engagement of the academic leadership asit is gaining increasing relevance in the strategic decision-making process.
Learning Outcomes included:
Understanding the different stages of the internationalisation process and identifying your tasks and roles at each step
Analysing local & global trends, as well as possible future scenarios, to identify institutional priorities and develop and/or realign the university's internationalisation strategy
Gaining a set of practical tools and techniques in order to monitor and evaluate your university's internationalisation activities
Format: The Master class combined keynote presentations by international experts with interactive group sessions in which participants discuss real-life case studies and share their experience. The programme was enriched with stimulating exercises (intervision,speaker's corner) and complemented by time for self-reflection and networking.
Resources: