University of Hamburg - to research, to teach, to educate and form, to homepage

Photo: UHH/Ohme

Internationalization Strategy

Globally Active, Globally Minded: Internationalization as a Catalyst for University Impact

Science is international by nature. In this respect, internationalization within the scientific community is not an "add-on" that may be seen as dispensable for a university, but is one of the fundamental conditions for a university’s performance, innovation, and future viability in a landscape characterized by international competition and cooperation. Internationalization is or must be tightly interwoven into higher education’s three central missions—research, learning and teaching, and knowledge exchange—and facilitates the institution’s sustainable and agile development and transformational culture. These core truths summarize this relationship:

  • Internationalization is a catalyst in shaping the scientific and academic landscape.
  • Internationalization drives excellent research.
  •  Internationalization enables innovative teaching. 
  • Internationalization contributes to an open and tolerant society.

These truths particularly apply to the University of Hamburg. As a national University of Excellence  and a flagship university located in a cosmopolitan and transnational port metropolis—the city itself has a long tradition of global trade relations and strong international communities—the University has the best prerequisites not only to benefit as an institution from international exchange and to make a mark worldwide in research, teaching, knowledge exchange as well as administration and governance, but also—as laid out in its leitmotif—to shape the path toward innovating and cooperating for a sustainable future in a digital age. This Twin Transformation, that is, the integrated advancement of sustainability and digitalization, guides overall strategic development and, in linkage with internationalization, reflects the University’s commitment to being a driving force in the global academic community.

To fully embody the above truths as an institution, the University has carried out manifold strategic, tactical, and operative measures over the course of the past decade and across the breadth of the university. These range from external audits of the internationalization process itself (2011/2012; 2015-2018) to the establishment of a strategic partnership network, which has  resulted in numerous joint research and teaching projects and exchange opportunities for students and staff, to the expansion of services to better support and onboard new University members from abroad.  

In light of global challenges facing not just higher education, but indeed society at large, the University sees a heightened need to iteratively assess what indeed internationalization means for the institution in a world at flux. As such, the University has formulated a new claim framing its strategic internationalization efforts: “Globally Active, Globally Minded: Internationalization as a Catalyst for University Impact.” This framework highlights the transversal hallmark of quality that internationalization at UHH epitomizes and underscores the University’s long-term mission of contributing to global responsibility and empowering students, faculty, and staff to engage with the world, embrace diverse perspectives, and address—together with valued regional and international partners—the complex challenges facing our global society.

In order to realize such an objective, the University has defined two broader fields of activity, they themselves intertwined: fostering global engagement and nurturing global culture. These fields guide the development of strategic internationalization measures across the University.

Field of activity: Fostering Global Engagement

The University of Hamburg collaborates and networks with diverse global partners and platforms to connect and amplify its collective impact. By cultivating a dynamic environment for innovation and dialogue, we enable transformative change at a larger scale. Sustainable impact requires joint effort; therefore, such engagement is a crucial component in generating long-term excellence in higher education and strengthening the role of academia in and with society.

Sub-fields encompass:

  • Intensifying global dialogue: With its commitment to transformational change, the University offers a platform for stakeholder-driven discourse on globally relevant research and higher education issues, particularly with a focus on current and coming geopolitical challenges and changes. As such and by utilizing its members’ expertise, the University shapes discourse and debate on higher education. Here a network-driven approach, such as through the Global Innovation Circle on Higher Education (GICHE), heightens the potential for success.
  • Strengthening strategic cooperation: The University has established a robust network of strategic and profile partnerships, is a member in networks such as the European University Alliance for Global Health (EUGLOH), and boasts a unique regional research ecosystem with strong international ties. The expansion of these mostly bilateral cooperation into multilateral networks, particularly in research and teaching, but also in knowledge exchange, and the related goal of “networking the networks” allow for deeper, sustainable collaboration and broader collective impact.

Exemplary activities include:

Field of activity: Nurturing Global Culture

The University embraces a vibrant and diverse community, striving to create an open and inclusive campus that celebrates global perspectives and promotes tolerance among its members. By valuing diversity, we aim to enhance the cultural fabric of our institution and contribute to a more interconnected world. Enabling such a culture enables us to make a sustainable contribution to a more open and tolerant society.

Sub-fields encompass:

  • Attracting international talent: By offering a portfolio of excellent research and degree programs and professional opportunities as well as a welcoming and inclusive environment, the University aspires to be a magnet for scholars, researchers, and students seeking a global academic experience. In particular, the University’s four Clusters of Excellence  are recognized offering outstanding opportunities to conduct globally relevant research. Additionally, the integration of English-language and internationally-oriented degree programs, including at the undergraduate level, into such key research areas provides novel pathways for students from around the world.
  • Expanding global competence: The University holds the provision of international experience—be it at home or abroad—to be an indispensable cornerstone in transformational change. As such, the University expands its offerings for its members to encompass diverse formats and to facilitate exchange and dialogue across campus and with partners.

 

Exemplary activities include:

Global Exchange

A crucial tenet in any internationalization strategy is mobility. At the University of Hamburg, exchange opportunities for students, faculty, and staff serve not just individual development, but are a key strategic link between global engagement and global culture: internationally engaged University members and guests drive an open, outward-looking campus culture and future-thinking institutional development.

Sample programs include:

Governance and responsibility

As befitting such a transversal strategic area of University development, the University strives to embed internationalization across campus. Responsibility for the development of strategic internationalization lies with the Executive University Board and, in her role as Senior International Officer, the Head of the Department of International Affairs. The International Advisory Board provides crucial input and recommendations from an external point of view whereas the vice-deans and representatives for internationalization from the faculties provide internal insight and perspectives. The Department of International Affairs manages strategic implementation; however, in accordance with embedded internationalization, “internationalization belongs to all.” That is, the initiation and implementation of internationalization activities in the above fields of activity across research, learning and teaching, and knowledge exchange as well as the Twin Transformation is increasingly a joint effort between stakeholders—in line with the University’s overall vision of a culture of shared responsibility.