The global opportunities framework: making room for all at the table

In all cultures, coming together to share food is a powerful medium for communication and shared experience. It unifies groups and communities, creating opportunities for exchange. In the journey towards inclusive internationalisation in higher education, few metaphors capture the essence of sharing, accessing, and connecting through international education as effectively as communal dining. 

Throughout this blog, we'll use this analogy to explore some of the challenges in crafting the perfect recipe for inclusive internationalisation, and discuss how we can make global learning opportunities more accessible and interconnected to benefit students, employers, and societies alike. 

Since its release last year, at the UUKi Global Mobility Conference in Lancaster, the UUKi Internationalisation at Home (IaH) Handbook has whet appetites all over the world for more focus on how to support students with varied forms of student internationalisation. The resources provided have attracted 3,000 downloads across more than 80 countries. 

This year, our session continues to build on that momentum, emphasising the importance of systematic, nested approaches to delivering global opportunities. Such efforts aim to create a more accessible and personalised internationalised student experience that benefits institutions and broader communities alike. 

A menu of opportunities 

Much like a thoughtfully prepared dining experience allows guests to choose their journey from appetising hors d'oeuvres to satisfying main courses and indulgent desserts, a well-structured internationalisation framework offers students flexible pathways to engage globally. 

Students might begin with lighter, accessible taster activities, such as international campus events or virtual exchanges, which introduce cross-cultural experiences without overwhelming those new to the international table. These can be followed by more substantial ‘entrée’ experiences, like short-term study abroad programmes or collaborative online projects, allowing students to develop their international tastes at a comfortable pace. 

Not everyone has room for pudding, but it can sometimes be the most important course. However, importantly, each stage or course should hold its own intrinsic value, ensuring that wherever students choose to pause or conclude their journey, they leave with an enduring appreciation of a slice of global citizenship and cross-cultural understanding. 

It’s also essential to recognise that not all students will follow the same dining path. While some may prefer to sample a variety of starters, lighter, more accessible international experiences, others might opt to skip the starters entirely and head straight to the ‘main course’ of more immersive opportunities. Just as a well-curated menu allows diners to choose their own journey through the meal, a flexible internationalisation framework should cater to these varied tastes. 

The key is that students can craft their own global learning journey, savouring the experiences that best suit their preferences and goals.

Barriers to the banquet 

However, the ideal dining experience I’ve described does not always reflect the reality for students. Imagine a banquet laden with diverse and rich dishes representing the array of international experiences higher education institutions aim to provide. 

The recent International Higher Education Commission Report (2023) underscores this disparity, noting that relatively few UK students can enjoy the full menu of international experiences through studying abroad alone.

In response, Internationalisation at Home offers a thoughtfully crafted tasting menu, enabling students to refine their global palate with campus-based international community activities. These experiences build confidence for what some may consider to be the main course of study abroad while also serving as an appetiser and dessert, preparing students for mobility, then helping them process and build upon those overseas experiences. The goal is to ensure the rich flavours of international education linger long after the journey. 

Creating a flavoursome framework 

Much like a well-designed meal, where each course complements the next, a systematic approach to global opportunities can ensure that activities are interconnected and mutually reinforcing. As Ang and Rockstuhl (2020) highlight, the quality of intercultural engagement is the critical ingredient. 

Without a framework, these experiences risk becoming isolated bites, failing to form a cohesive meal. The UUKi IaH Handbook outlines the IaH Development and Evaluation Cycle (IDEC), enabling institutions to review and iterate on their offerings. By curating a balanced and satisfying menu of global learning opportunities, from campus-based events to virtual exchanges and community projects, students can craft their own harmonious educational journeys. 

Refining the recipe 

The importance of continuously reviewing outcomes and gaining stakeholder feedback aligns with the mission of the forthcoming Innovations in Internationalisation at Home Conference (IIH2025), which underscores the need to evaluate IaH’s impact on student outcomes and institutional goals. Measuring success requires both qualitative and quantitative approaches to capture the full scope of students’ experience and their potential growth in areas such as cultural intelligence, employability skills, and intercultural awareness. 

This evaluative process could help institutions build a shared understanding of the value of IaH alongside other global opportunities, demonstrating its role in preparing students for global careers and enabling them to thrive in diverse, intercultural settings. Through these efforts, colleagues also have scope to support a case for further investment in IaH initiatives, ensuring a more equitable and effective global learning ecosystem. 

Hungry for more? 

For additional insights, practical strategies, and detailed guidance on building an interconnected global opportunities framework, join us in London at the Global Mobility Conference 2025. 

Our session will explore the benefits and challenges of curating a framework of impactful, systematic and internationalised experiences that enhance global citizenship for a broad range of students across higher education. It’s bound to be food for thought!