HEIAS Expert Site Visit to Toyo University

From June 30 to July 2, 2025, the IAU concluded a three-day HEIAS (Higher Education Internationalization Assessment Service) site visit at Toyo University in Japan. The visit focused on evaluating the university’s progress in achieving comprehensive internationalization and enhancing global engagement across the entire institution.

The HEIAS Expert Panel, composed of Giorgio Marinoni, IAU Manager for Higher Education and Internationalization, Eva Egron-Polak, former IAU Secretary General, Sandra den Otter, Vice Rector for Global Engagement at Queen's University in Canada, and Professor Akizumi Yonezawa, Special Assistant to the President for International Strategy at Tohoku University, met with university leadership, faculty, staff, and students. They explored how internationalization has evolved at Toyo since the university’s participation in ISAS 2.0 in 2019 and how it is embedded throughout the institution. The panel reviewed initiatives connected to Toyo’s medium- and long-term strategy and visited the Akabanedai Campus to gain deeper insight into faculty-level efforts.

The visit also included a Staff Development workshop which created a space for staff to discuss challenges in internationalization, including virtual exchange, student mobility support, mental health considerations, international student recruitment, internships, and strategic partnerships. The HEIAS experts offered concrete feedback and shared global practices to support ongoing efforts at Toyo. The session emphasized that there is no single formula for success and highlighted the importance of staying purpose-driven, strategic, and adaptive to context.

The IAU commends Toyo University for its institution-wide commitment and looks forward to continued collaboration in advancing inclusive and comprehensive internationalization in higher education.