International Strategy for HSBI

With more than 10,000 students at the three locations in Bielefeld, Minden and Gütersloh, Bielefeld University of Applied  Sciences (UAS) is one of the larger universities of applied sciences in Germany. In practice-oriented study programmes and with regard to cooperations with companies and institutions based in the East Westphalia-Lippe (OWL) region, Bielefeld UAS lives and breathes diversity and equal opportunities. As a higher-education institution that is open to the world, it qualifies students for professional and executive functions. These principles, which are deeply rooted in the self-conception of Bielefeld UAS, are lived and observed throughout the whole institution.

This basis gives Bielefeld UAS the prerequisites to face the change in circumstances and challenges. Internationalisation is one of the decisive strategic pillars and gains ever more importance. In the 21st century, accomplishments in research, transfer and teaching can only be reached if academia exchanges views across national borders. For this, the university needs to create the necessary opportunities. Bielefeld UAS thus understands itself as an institution that is open to the world, which faces up to these developments:

• Innovation in technology, services, models of society and the arts emerges through international cooperation. Thus, only globally connected science and teaching can meet the university’s requirements on a permanent basis.
• Young researchers, due to their previous engagements, are used to working internationally and carry this approach into the university.
• Equally, potential employers increasingly expect graduates of Bielefeld UAS to possess intercultural competences. There is a highdemand for such competences in the OWLregion, in particular. In general,there is a broad consensus about the fact that small and medium-sized enterprises as well as family-run businesses will only be able to fulfil their need for professionals by employing international specialists.
• Universities of applied sciences receive more and more attention from politics, with an increase in funding. Dedicated, extensive programmes, in particular for improving international research performance and networking, are intended to overcome the currently prevailing underperformance in internationality of universities of applied sciences in comparison with the entirety of German universities.
• Over the long term, Bielefeld UAS will only be able to maintain its size, and thus its financial resources as well as its right to exist, if it can compensate for the projected decrease in the number of students by offering internationally sought-after study programmes.
• Ultimately, the protectionist policies which increasingly spread all over the world conflict with the concept of global action and therefore with Germany’s economic and social foundation. As a consequence, Bielefeld UAS needs to sensitise and prepare its students by enabling them to gain international experience and to create Freiräume for all of its associates to actglobally.

Bielefeld UAS as a whole has so far hardly reacted to these challenges, even though in some faculties a systematic consideration of these competence requirements has taken place. This includes the expansion of subject-specific partner networks, English-taught module offers, mobility windows and generous recognition practices. In summary, however, these activities have remained isolated and have led to only a low rate of mobility (13% among all students) and few international students (9% of all students) at the university.

In an increasingly competitive academic environment, Bielefeld UAS therefore needs to relate all internationalisation activities – apart from overriding objectives of international exchange – to its overall strategy as an institution and emphasise its own institutional interests as well.

The complete document is available in the download box.