Internationalisation at Home (IaH): an introductory handbook

It is designed to help university practitioners develop a systematic approach to IaH that aligns to broader university practices and raises the profile of this activity.

Universities are operating against a backdrop of developing environmentally sustainable practices, widening participation from traditionally under-represented backgrounds in global activities, financial pressures, and ensuring inclusivity and belonging amongst its student cohorts.

Recognising that our campuses are already a place of diversity and the benefits that international students provide, IaH is an ideal approach to bring international dimensions to our university experiences.

IaH is important because:

• Our students deserve to experience a curriculum which reflects the rich diversity of our local and international communities and to feel included, enabled and empowered by their studies.
• It is an inclusive and accessible form of learning that can be made broadly available to more students, especially those for whom travel may not be possible due to time and financial restrictions.
• It supports the development of critical thinking skills, global citizenship and employability skills which are all key resources for successful community building and workforce development.
• It encourages knowledge diplomacy through the process of collaboration, intercultural communication and networking between international and home students, and promotes mutual understanding and shared solutions which can help build international relations.

These activities can also help institutions make progress towards a range of key policy and strategic missions, including: global engagement; employability; equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI); sustainability; participation; and progression. The case studies that appear throughout this handbook demonstrate how IaH can make a positive contribution to a range of mission-critical areas of priority for the university sector.

The handbook and infographic has been created by members of UUKi’s working group for Internationalisation at Home, part of the Outward Student Mobility Network (OSM). The group has representation from across the UK sector and is led by Anthony Manning and Emma Marku from the University of Kent.

Join us at Global Mobility Conference 2024 on 20 February at Lancaster University to hear more from the creators of the handbook in their dedicated session.