UNICA IRO Meeting 2024 | Bucharest University of Economic Studies | 13-15 Nov 2024
The annual gathering of UNICA International Relations Officers was kindly hosted by the Bucharest University of Economic Studies (ASE), Bucharest, 13-15 November 2024 under the overarching theme “Building the Ideal International Relations Office: Balancing between Challenges and Tangible Results in a Dynamic Environment”.
Through different session formats ranging from World Café to panel discussions, lectures, and workshops, UNICA IROs went on a journey through the past, present, and future of a professional role which has evolved significantly and quickly in response to the shifting landscape of higher education and internationalisation. The UNICA IRO Meeting 2024 provided a platform for IROs to collectively envision their ideal future. By understanding their evolving role through the lens of past achievements, present challenges, and future possibilities, participants are better equipped to lead internationalisation efforts in their institutions. The main objectives of the meeting included:
- Reflecting on the historical evolution of the IRO role and the concept of internationalisation;
- Addressing the current challenges IROs face, including resource limitations, rising student mobility, and the need for enhanced intercultural competencies;
- Identifying and assess the key needs of UNICA IROs in relation to specific areas of the Erasmus+ program;
- Exploring emerging trends, particularly in digitalisation and AI, that will shape the future of international relations in higher education.
Click to download presentation & other materials
Introduction
- Lecture on the evolution of internationalisation in Higher Education, by Horia ONITA, Head of the European Higher Education Area Secretariat (coming soon)
Session 1: E+ briefing: what’s new on Erasmus+?
- Updates from Erasmus, by Svava BERGLIND FINSEN (online), Policy Officer, Higher Education Unit, DG EAC, European Commission
- New forms of mobilities: a case study on BIPs and short mobilities, by Teodora Monica FULGA, Head of the Erasmus+ Office, Bucharest University of Economic Studies
- Expanding the scope of the Erasmus Program: implementation challenges, by José CONCHINHA, Head of the International Mobility Unit, NOVA University Lisbon
- Erasmus Without Paper, by Helena DERŠEK ŠTUHEC, Head of the Department, International Relations Office, University of Ljubljana
- World Café Guiding Questions
Session 2: Present-day challenges for International Relations Officers
Session 3: Trends Shaping the Future of Internationalisation
- Presentation of the fictional university European Unique University
- Working scenarios (task forces) for the future of internatioalisation
Session 4: Workshop/training: AI in Mobility and Partnership Management
Conclusions & Flash IRO Meeting
13-15 November 2024
Bucharest, Romania
Bucharest University of Economic Studies (ASE)
Contact
Laura Brossico (laura.brossico@unica-network.eu) or Alexandra Duarte (alexandra.duarte@unica-network.eu)
Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.