Event Overview and Attendance
The 6th Edition of the Erasmus+ Global Week, held from May 19-23, 2025, at the Polytechnic University of Coimbra (IPC), successfully convened over 40 participants from 16 countries, representing 19 higher education institutions.
This turnout met and aligned effectively with the event’s capacity planning targets, which allowed for a maximum of 70 attendees.
The event's thematic emphasis was on “Internationalisation at Home,” strategically establishing it as a critical platform for enhancing global networks and promoting international cooperation.
The focus was on the integration of internationalisation into home institutions.
Success in Promoting Internationalisation at Home
Thematic Focus and Strategic Alignment
Global Week 2025 showcased a significant success in advocating for domestic internationalization through a targeted thematic approach.
The event was a comprehensive forum for engaging with global challenges, sharing best practices, and examining the higher education sector’s role in addressing international issues within the Erasmus+ framework.
Leadership Recognition and Institutional Impact
IPC’s Vice President, Maria João Cardoso, underscored the Global Week's pivotal role as a convergence point for partners and institutions involved in European and non-European international projects.
Cardoso stated, “This fair allows our community to meet our partners, obtain information, and plan international experiences for the future. Close contact with the IPC community is essential.”
Comprehensive Programming Structure
The event adeptly met its internationalisation objectives through a robust programming structure that featured:
International Conferences
Targeted discussions on mobility challenges and opportunities within the Erasmus+ context.
Workshops and Seminars
Critical reflections on innovations in mobility practices.
Cultural Programming
Facilitating cross-cultural interactions among participants.
Networking Opportunities
Strengthening institutional partnerships
How 16-Country Participation Enhanced Internationalisation Goals
Diversity of Perspectives and Best Practice Exchange
With representatives from 16 countries, the event fostered an enriching environment for exchanging diverse approaches to internationalisation.
This plurality enabled participants to learn from various national and institutional contexts, enriching the collective understanding of effective strategies for implementing internationalisation at home.
Strengthening Global Networks and Partnerships
The multi-national representation was a potent catalyst for nurturing new partnerships and reinforcing existing collaborations between institutions across varied geographical landscapes.
The networking aspect was vital for developing ongoing collaborative projects to extend internationalisation benefits to students unable to partake in conventional study abroad programs.
Cross-Cultural Dialogue and Collaborative Problem-Solving
The diversity of participants facilitated meaningful cross-cultural dialogue and collaborative methodologies to tackle shared challenges in higher education internationalisation.
Such engagement helped dismantle barriers, foster mutual understanding, and transition internationalisation from theoretical postulations to practical applications within the participants' campuses.
Enhanced Scope and Reach
The event successfully expanded the discourse on internationalisation by incorporating institutions from European and non-European countries.
This inclusiveness resonated with the “Internationalisation at Home” philosophy, allowing for integrating global perspectives into domestic educational frameworks across a spectrum of institutional contexts.
Cultural and Community Engagement
In addition to the academic programming, international guests engaged in cultural visits and social activities in Coimbra.
This cultural component reinforced institutional bonds while promoting the exchange of best practices in internationalisation, mobility initiatives, and pedagogical methodologies.
Long-term Impact and Commitment
The Global Week 2025 reaffirmed IPC's dedication to internationalisation and the development of collaborative networks, effectively positioning Coimbra as a nexus of cultural and knowledge exchange.
The event’s design, which intricately combined academic sessions, cultural interactions, and networking opportunities, ensured participants departed with actionable strategies and frameworks to enhance internationalisation at home initiatives in their respective institutions
Conclusion
The Erasmus+ Global Week 2025 in Coimbra advanced the agenda of internationalisation at home by creating a structured, collaborative environment conducive to sharing best practices, cultivating international networks, and embedding global perspectives into local academic contexts.
Representatives from 16 countries participated, significantly amplifying the event's impact, fostering a more unified approach to internationalisation across diverse educational landscapes.
