The document outlines the University of Edinburgh's strategic management in promoting international mobility and enhancing student participation in global educational experiences. It highlights the university's vision for 2025, cultural changes needed to facilitate participation, and recognition received for innovative practices. Additionally, it details the processes for creating bilateral exchange agreements and initiatives aimed at increasing access to international experiences for underrepresented student groups.

1. Isabell Majewsky Anderson
Head of Go Abroad and Director of Summer School Office
Quality in mobility:
Strategic
management at
an institutional
level

2. Introduction
1. Our Strategy and Vision 2025
2. Culture Change and Removing Barriers
3. Recognition of Best Practice
4. University of Edinburgh approach:
• Combating drift: Setting up an agreement
• Securing consistency: Go Abroad Group
• Creating options: Short-term experiences and
• Summer School Abroad for our students

3. Our Strategy and Vision 2025
“A more international student body – offering all our students
an international learning experience; enabling us to make a
truly global impact”

4. 74% in the last 3 years
Increased Participation
Academic year Total participants
2012-13 618
2013-14 923
2014-15 1078

5. Recognition of Best Practice
QAA Case Study
On support + reflective components
as a model for ensuring successful
student transitions
Gold Commonwealth Game Changer
Award
For our inspiring partnership with the
University of Delhi which enabled a
number of successful programmes to
take place
EAIE Award
For our innovative contribution to
international higher education through
the Principal’s Go Abroad Challenge

6. University of Edinburgh initiatives
Combating drift:
Setting up an
agreement
Creating options:
Short-term
experiences and
Summer School
Abroad
Securing
consistency:
Go Abroad Group

7. Proposal and approval process for subject-specific
collaborations
Creating new bilateral student exchange agreements
Stage 1 - preparation
•Undertake preparatory site visit to proposed partner
•Complete risk assessment (if required)
•Complete UofE proposal form for a new exchange
agreement
Stage 2 – approval
•Proposal must be approved at 3 stages – by:
Head of School
International Office
Head of College
Stage 3 – creation
•International Office drafts new agreement to send to proposed
partner:
- a bilateral agreement for Erasmus proposals
- an MoA (and possibly MoU) for non-Erasmus proposals
•Agreement is sent to the partner for signature
- Requested changes to be agreed with the partner (and UofE
Legal Services team for non-Erasmus agreements)
•Final signed agreement held by International Office

10. Exchange Coordinators: Formalised role and providing better support
The facts:
•60 coordinators, one per subject area
•Change every 1-2 years, inconsistency
•No training offered
•No financial reward
•No recognition
The role:
•Manage the provision of EU and international
experiences
•Provide strategic direction for subject-level
collaborative agreements
•Provide academic and pastoral supportMain responsibilities:
•Agreements: new and existing
•Applications: assist students and allocate places
•Student support: Academic and pastoral
•Academic progression: reviewing transcripts
•Internationalisation: for their subject area

11. Providing support
Staff Toolkit, guidance on:
•Supporting students
•Managing partners
•Promoting exchanges
•Staff mobility opportunities
•Guidelines and policies
Go Abroad Network:
•Quarterly, informal lunch meetings
•Sharing experience and good practice
•Themed and timed to coincide with key stages
Topics include:
•Establishing, reviewing and promoting exchanges
•Application and selection process
•Pre-departure arrangements
•Managing students whilst on exchange
•Student progression

12. Culture Change and Removing Barriers
Offering less expensive alternatives to
traditional exchange options
Providing flexible funding models
Providing shorter experiences for
students who work or have other
responsibilities
Removing issues around accommodation
Targeting underrepresented groups to
communicate that Go Abroad
experiences are accessible to all

13. Principal’s Go Abroad Challenge
Maximising the exposure of our students
to international opportunities
Building on and diversifying a strong
culture of Internationalisation
Combating the barriers to participation
Widening participation and promoting
experiences for all
Inspiring staff and students to create new
Go Abroad activities

14. PGAC included a range of short-term international experiences, aimed at
reaching as many student groups as possible, with 4 key strands...
1 2 3 4
The Principals Go Abroad
Fund
- a large scale scholarship
programme aimed at
incentivising as students
Custom designed short-term
initiatives
- in close collaboration with key
partners and stakeholders, both
internally and externally + targeted
at specific underrepresented
groups
Wrap-around reflective
components
- enable participants to develop
reflective tools + benefit from
their experiences + articulate
experiences to a range of
audiences including prospective
employers
Two annual showcase events
- The Go Abroad Event + The
Homecoming Event

15. Summer School Abroad for our students

16. Summer School Abroad Courses
IndiaTanzania

17. Social and Cultural Programme
Sightseeing | Culture | Community Engagement | Arts and Crafts

18. The University of Edinburgh is a charitable body, registered in Scotland, with registration number SC005336.
Isabell Majewsky Anderson
Head of Go Abroad and Director of Summer School Office
International Office, University of Edinburgh
34 Buccleuch Place, Edinburgh, EH8 9JS
T: + 44 (0)131 651 5532
W: www.summerschool.ed.ac.uk
Linkedin: Friends of the Summer School
W: www.ed.ac.uk/about/edinburgh-global
Quality in mobility: Strategic management at an institutional level

19. The University of Edinburgh is a charitable body, registered in Scotland, with registration number SC005336.
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