UvA gears itself for a more thorough internationalisation strategy
Whereas the UvA’s international strategy used to consist of attracting as many international students as possible, it’s now allocating funds and resources to improving the social integration of international students and employees.
Studying abroad has become increasingly popular. Worldwide the number of students abroad has increased from 1,3 million a year in 1990 to 4,5 million in 2014 with predictions these figures will keep increasing.
The same trend can be seen at the UvA, where from 2006 to 2016, the number of international students enrolled has more than quadrupled (from 1.040 to 4.600). Of this, international PhD students make up around 40-45 per cent while international staff and researchers make up about 17 per cent.
Soft landing
The university wants to improve the social integration of these increasing numbers of international students and employees by providing all newcomers with a ‘soft landing’ through a special introduction programme. The UvA will also ‘do its best’ to ensure that every first year international student and employee has suitable accommodation. By 2018 the UvA hopes to be able to match rooms available to students and staff accepted.
Meanwhile, the UvA is also taking steps to reposition itself not only as a bilingual university, but as a ‘global’ university. Almost all studies should include international and intercultural aspects in their curriculum by 2020. The university has also committed to attracting more students from outside of Europe. To this end, it’s making more scholarships available and special funding for refugees.
