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Internationalization of Higher Education in the COVID-19 Era

Logo for the webinar series "Internationalization of Higher Education in the COVID-19 Era" on a dark background. The logo consists of the name of the series with the "o" in the word education being a compass.
U.S. flag, U.S. State Department Seal, USA StudyAbroad logo, Fulbright Finland Foundation logo and AIEA logo

The U.S. Department of State’s USA Study Abroad branch, the Fulbright Finland Foundation, and the Association of International Education Administrators (AIEA) is organizing a global webinar series "Internationalization of Higher Education in the COVID-19 Era". These activities support U.S. study abroad and are funded by the U.S. Government through a Study Abroad Engagement Grant from USA Study Abroad within the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S. Department of State. The organizers would also like to thank the Fulbright Commission in Portugal for their assistance. 

The series aims to raise awareness of the changing landscape of U.S. study abroad and international education, to strengthen foreign institutions' hosting capacity for U.S. students, and to increase participation in higher education strategic partnerships and engagement with U.S. university counterparts. The series aims to pave the way for long-term collaboration between higher education institutions around the world with those in the United States to increase and diversify American study abroad, as well as faculty exchanges for research, lecturing and partnership building.

This free webinar series is aimed at higher education professionals at institutions outside of the United States to enable them to better understand the evolving environment for and nature of American student mobility abroad.

Registration is required for the webinars. 

Past Webinars

Thinking and Planning Ahead: What’s Next for International Education and Study Abroad?

Monday, November 9, 2020

17:00-18:15 Helsinki (GMT+2)
10:00-11:15 Washington, DC
7:00-8:15 San Francisco

Speaker bios

These extraordinary times have changed many of the ways that higher education institutions view international travel and study abroad. In this webinar, we’ll discuss what’s next for international higher education. Where should we focus our efforts and take proactive steps for the future? Instead of protecting the status quo and sitting back and waiting for what’s to come, this webinar focuses on pragmatic ways that we, together, can shape the future of study abroad and international higher education. 

The webinar will be recorded and the recording will be made available after the event.

What Does the Future Hold for International Higher Education? A Conversation with Educators in Australia, Fiji, New Zealand and the United States

Tuesday, November 17, 2020 / Wednesday, November 18, 2020

Tuesday, November 17, 2020 at 18:00-19:30 Washington, DC
Wednesday, November 18, 2020 at 12:00-13:30 Auckland
Wednesday, November 18, 2020 at 11:00-12:30 Fiji
Wednesday, November 18, 2020 at 10:00-11:30 Sydney/Melbourne

At this exceptional moment in time, what does the future hold for international student mobility and international education more broadly? Where should higher education professionals focus current efforts and best prepare for the ‘new normal’? This conversation between higher education leaders and/or government officials from Australia, Fiji, New Zealand and the United States will focus on practical ways that we, together, can shape the future international education space and increase collaboration between our countries and higher education institutions.

The organizers would also like to thank ISEP for their support of this webinar.

What Does the Future Hold for International Higher Education? A Conversation with Educators in Greece, Portugal, Spain and the United States

Monday, November 30, 2020

9:00-10:30 Washington, DC
14:00-15:30 Lisbon
15:00-16:30 Madrid
16:00-17:30 Athens

At this exceptional moment in time, what does the future hold for international student mobility and international education more broadly? Where should higher education professionals focus current efforts and best prepare for the ‘new normal’? This conversation between higher education leaders and/or government officials from Greece, Portugal, Spain and the United States will focus on practical ways that we, together, can shape the future international education space and increase collaboration between our countries and higher education institutions.

Reimagining Comprehensive Internationalization

Thursday, December 10, 2020

17:00-18:15 Helsinki (GMT + 2)
10:00-11:15 Washington, DC
7:00-8:15 San Francisco

Speaker bios

As international mobility is interrupted by a global pandemic, it’s time to take stock and reimagine comprehensive internationalization on our campuses. In this session, we will discuss compelling arguments and strategies to internationalize our campuses “at home” and ways to develop stronger academic ties between academic institutions in the United States and across the globe. Developing plans to internationalize our campuses “at home” not only mitigates against the short-term loss of international mobility, but it makes global learning on our campuses more inclusive. By identifying and building a diverse team of key leaders and academics to champion and advance internationalization efforts, we can internationalize our campuses “at home” right now.

Prioritizing Health, Safety & Security: Hosting American Students

Thursday, January 14, 2021

17:00-18:15 Helsinki (GMT+2)
10:00-11:15 Washington, DC
7:00-8:15 San Francisco

Speaker bios

Recent events have further illuminated the need to prioritize health, safety and security in international exchange program development, implementation and management for student mobility. Leaders in international education share lessons learned and offer practical tips on risk assessments, emergency plans and protocols. How can health, safety and security needs of international education programs be embedded within partner relations and institutional strategic plans to ensure a robust return to study abroad?

Championing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in International Education

Tuesday, February 9, 2021

17:00-18:15 Helsinki (GMT+2)
10:00-11:15 Washington, DC
7:00-8:15 San Francisco

Speaker bios

How do we ensure diversity, equity and inclusion as we recruit and attract future U.S. student study abroad participants and facilitate an overall empowering experience? This webinar focuses on the importance of how prepared we are, as international educators, to encourage incoming and outgoing students and scholars to reflect on their identity, the local environment and how to navigate an international context that may be distinctly different. This webinar also focuses on practical steps to develop international offerings in an inclusive manner through intentional marketing, comprehensive advising, and tailored student support for Americans studying abroad.

The New Virtual Student Experience: Education, Study Abroad and Internships

Tuesday, March 9, 2021

17:00-18:15 Helsinki (GMT+2)
10:00-11:15 Washington, DC
7:00-8:15 San Francisco

Speaker bios

The pandemic has tested our online readiness as classes and student support have moved to virtual environments. This webinar offers practical tips and lessons learned when designing online international education experiences that take into account a holistic student experience for American students, from mental wellbeing to gaining global competencies.

International Strategic Partnerships and Engagement

Thursday, April 15, 2021

17:00-18:15 Helsinki (GMT+3)
10:00-11:15 Washington, DC
7:00-8:15 San Francisco

Speaker bios.

In 2020 we saw borders close and international academic mobility interrupted. How can international strategic partnerships survive or thrive? This webinar addresses the importance of higher education partnerships between the United States and other countries. Speakers discuss current challenges of maintaining and building partnerships and give practical tips for reflecting on the main goals of strategic partnerships to guide future relations.

Embracing Change: New Partnership Models & ‘Speed-Dating’

Wednesday, May 5, 2021

17:00-18:30 Helsinki (GMT+3)
10:00-11:30 Washington, DC
7:00-8:30 San Francisco

This interactive session includes two rounds of partnership ‘speed-dating’ with the aim of exploring future collaboration opportunities related to the following themes:

  1. Increasing international opportunities for underrepresented students
  2. Climate change

Please indicate in the registration form, if you are interested in partnership building opportunities related to one or both themes.

As international education is shaped by global events, the flexibility of higher education partnerships is being tested. From international mobility to hybrid programming and fully online collaboration, partnership models are evolving. In this webinar, an expert speaker shares best practices from the field - how to explore future partnerships with prospective partners and how to work closely with current partners to strengthen collaborative efforts by embracing innovative international synergies.

As a way to embrace change and try something new, all webinar participants will have the opportunity to participate in an interactive networking element, partnership ‘speed-dating’: participants will meet others and discuss possible future collaboration on the topics of climate change and international opportunities for underrepresented students.

Please note, this webinar has a capacity of 90 participants. In order to match the participants with prospective partners from different countries, we will offer 45 spots for participants from the U.S. and 45 spots for participants outside the U.S. 

Sustainable Partnerships in the Arctic

Wednesday, June 9, 2021

17:00-18:30 Helsinki (GMT+3)
10:00-11:30 Washington, DC
7:00-8:30 San Francisco

See speaker bios.

This highly interactive event focuses on future areas for higher education collaboration and successes in developing multidisciplinary partnerships in the Arctic region. Speakers inspire participants with innovative examples and tips to develop collaborations for a sustainable Arctic. Participants, from the Arctic Council member states and beyond, have the opportunity to participate in an interactive networking element, ‘partnership speed-dating’, as a way to meet others and discuss potential future collaborations.