How do we improve our competences in the field of internationalization.
The halfway point of the realization of #SGH4U project managed by SGH Warsaw School of Economics International Centre (CPM), financed from the resources of the European Social Fund under the Knowledge, Education Development operational programme operating within the framework of the NAWA Welcome to Poland project, is approaching. Under the project we already realized several interesting initiatives. One of them was organizing study visits at partner universities for SGH employees. Visits were realized in five universities in Poland and five universities abroad. Teaching and administrative staff of our university, interested in internationalization processes, were able to learn about experiences related with this issue and about good practices in this field introduced at partner universities such as: KEDGE Business School (France); Pepperdine University (USA), ESG UQAM (Canada), European University Viadrina (Germany), Wirtschaftsuniversitaet Wien (Austria), Jagiellonian University in Cracow, Łódź University of Technology, Wrocław University of Science and Technology and University of Economics in Katowice.
Each of the visited universities has extensive experience regarding internationalization and implementing interesting and often very innovative solutions concerning processing foreign students and staff and establishing multi-cultural environment based on tolerance, non-discrimination and respect towards cultural differences.
The staff participating in the study visits had an opportunity to learn about the experiences of partner universities concerning the strategy of internationalization and implementing internationalization policy in practice. Furthermore, they were also able to familiarize themselves with institutional arrangements relating to processing of foreign students adapted at a given university. The visits were also a perfect opportunity to examine how international centres of different universities operate, how the cooperation in international affairs between individual administrative units is being developed and how the collaboration with teaching and scientific staff heavily involved in the processes of internationalization expands.
We were also particularly interested in establishing the environment of tolerance at a university and gathering of positive experiences concerning intercultural communication and the integration of foreign students into the academic community.
The issue of safety was also very important. Ensuring the safety of foreign students and staff visiting SGH Warsaw School of Economics is of particular importance for us. Comparing our experiences with those of other universities may significantly influence the efficiency of our arrangements.
Study visits were a perfect opportunity for our teaching and administrative staff to acquire additional knowledge, improve competences in the area of internationalization and establish new contacts. All those experiences will positively influence good relations with foreign universities, students and staff and therefore will improve the attractiveness of our university. Developing this form of experience exchange with domestic and foreign universities also helps to establish positive image of SGH Warsaw School of Economics as a university emphasizing development of competences, acquiring practical knowledge and expertise and concerned with consolidating its international position.
The acquired experiences were gathered in the form of individual reports from the study visits.They will be published in the form of consensus document which will be an aggregate of good practices, experiences and knowledge gathered from other universities. This publication will be made available as a guide of sorts to the staff of SGH Warsaw School of Economics as well as to the staff of other universities and institutions interested in improving the processes of internationalization.
Furthermore, within the scope of the project we envisage the establishment of an online platform for experience sharing where we will post our best experiences obtained during study visits, conferences and seminars as well as the individual experiences and good practices submitted by the staff of SGH Warsaw School of Economics and other interested universities. The next event which will present the opportunity for the expanded dialogue and acquiring new experiences will be Forum Dziekanatów - International which is planned to take place on 9-10 December 2019.
Realization of study visits, as well as other initiatives oriented towards improving competences in the field of internationalization, is possible due to co-financing under the project of Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange programme Knowledge, Education, Development (funded by European Social Fund).
The #SGH4U project is co-financed by European Social Fund within the framework of Knowledge, Education, Development operation programme, hors concours project titled Improving competences of academic staff and capability of the institution in accepting foreigners - Welcome to Poland realized within the framework of works specified in application for project financing no. POWR.03.03.00-00-PN14/18.
