Members of the 2017 Study Tour to Germany and Switzerland reflect on their visit to five different HE institutions.

1. aua.ac.uk connecting and developing HE professionalsaua.ac.uk connecting and developing HE professionals
International travel will blow your mind
The 2017 AUA Study Tour of Switzerland and Germany
Heather Moyes, Cardiff University

2. aua.ac.uk connecting and developing HE professionals
Session outline
• The #AUASwitzGerm experience
• A bit of context: HE in federal systems
• Some key findings, including a few jaw-
drop moments
• Why study tours are a very (very) good
idea

3. aua.ac.uk connecting and developing HE professionals
study tour /ˈstʌdɪ tʊə/
noun
A tour undertaken for the purpose of
studying or carrying out research
oxforddictionaries.com

4. aua.ac.uk connecting and developing HE professionalsaua.ac.uk connecting and developing HE professionals
What’s involved?
• No picnic • Not a holiday

5. aua.ac.uk connecting and developing HE professionals
Itinerary /aɪˈtɪnərərɪ/
noun
1. a plan or line of travel; route
2. a record of a journey
Collins English Dictionary

6. aua.ac.uk connecting and developing HE professionals
Switzerland, 11-13 June

7. aua.ac.uk connecting and developing HE professionals
Germany, 13-15 June

8. aua.ac.uk connecting and developing HE professionalsaua.ac.uk connecting and developing HE professionals
What we went on our not-holidays
Switzerland
 Swiss Universities
 University of Bern
 University of Basel
Germany
 Technische Universität München
 Max Planck Gesellschaft
 Friedrich-Schiller-Universität, Jena
 Netzwerk Wissentschaftsmanagement
 German Centre for HE Research and
Science Studies
 German Rectors’ Conference
 Federal Ministry of Education and
Research
 Leibnitz Association
 British Embassy
 British Council

9. aua.ac.uk connecting and developing HE professionals
What we planned to do on our not-holidays
• "Big Data" and the use of metrics on
strategic planning in universities;
• Student engagement and the
development of the student learning
experience;
• Supporting doctoral students and
research capacity building;
• Regional convergence and
divergence; in national HE systems;
• Brexit and the future of international
cooperation in HE.

10. aua.ac.uk connecting and developing HE professionals
Background /ˈbækˌɡraʊnd/
noun
the social, historical, or technical
circumstances that lead up to or help to
explain something
Collins English Dictionary

11. aua.ac.uk connecting and developing HE professionals
Doing higher education in a federal system

12. aua.ac.uk connecting and developing HE professionals
Findings /ˈfaɪndɪŋz/
noun (plural)
the conclusion reached after an
examination or consideration of facts or
data by a judge, coroner, scholar, etc.
Collins English Dictionary

13. aua.ac.uk connecting and developing HE professionals
Shaping the student body
• The right to a higher
education
• Entering and leaving HE
• The role of funding

14. aua.ac.uk connecting and developing HE professionals
The place of international students

15. aua.ac.uk connecting and developing HE professionals
Supporting learning

16. aua.ac.uk connecting and developing HE professionals
Developing new researchers

17. aua.ac.uk connecting and developing HE professionals
Supporting research in Germany

18. aua.ac.uk connecting and developing HE professionals
Data cultures

19. aua.ac.uk connecting and developing HE professionals
Perspectives on Brexit

20. aua.ac.uk connecting and developing HE professionals
Learning /ˈlɜːnɪŋ/
noun
any relatively permanent change in
behaviour that occurs as a direct result
of experience
Collins English Dictionary

21. aua.ac.uk connecting and developing HE professionals
The real benefits of a study tour
• Insights into other systems and
approaches
• Preconceptions challenged
• Learning with peers
• Making links
• Personal development