Promotion of internationalization of study and mobility

Broadening horizons – abroad and at home

Spending time abroad broadens horizons and improves language skills – it enhances job prospects and provides optimal preparation for the globalized world of work. Therefore, improving the mobility and internationalization of studies and teaching is the goal of this sub-project.

In addition to providing opportunities for students of all degree programs to spend time abroad, this also involves networking and expanding the international contacts of the teaching staff – in short: the international profile of HGU.

While HGU already boasts an extensive international network of university and research collaborations, this network is heavily focused on viticulture programs. Therefore, in addition to promoting the mobility of students and university staff, the international dimension of the programs, which currently have little international focus, will also be enhanced. Through initiatives promoting "Internationalization@home," students will be encouraged to study abroad and prepared for the global job market.

This isn't just about spending entire semesters at foreign universities; internships are also an excellent way to gain experience. One goal of the project is therefore to initiate and develop a subject-specific internship database. The program also aims to significantly expand the opportunities available to students of beverage technology, food safety, food logistics, horticulture, and landscape architecture.

To encourage more students to study abroad, new communication channels are being created that include not only current lecturers but also former exchange students. At the same time, the willingness of lecturers to participate in international exchange programs themselves is to be increased. Furthermore, university partnerships are to be expanded, and international visiting lecturers and foreign business personnel are to be more actively involved – for example, through online guest lectures with the Universidad Nacional de Cuyo in Mendoza, Argentina.

In order to promote interculturality and foreign languages ​​locally, short-term programs such as summer schools with cooperation partners are being expanded and interdisciplinary courses in English are being developed as elective courses in the degree programs.

The sub-project for promoting internationalization is based on the results of the German Rectors' Conference (HRK) audit on internationalization (2019) and the HGU ranking in the profile data on the internationality of German universities (German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), HRK and Alexander von Humboldt Foundation (AvH)).