Making global learning accessible to all
Internationalisation is a strategic priority at Algebra Bernays University, embedded across institutional activities to ensure that all students—not only the mobile minority—can develop international and intercultural competences. Through a strong focus on Internationalisation at Home (IaH), the university has created inclusive opportunities for global learning directly on campus and within the curriculum.
IaH enables students who are unable to participate in physical mobility to gain meaningful international exposure through multilingual learning environments, intercultural interaction, and internationally enriched teaching formats. Before 2019/2020, fewer than 0.2% of students participated annually in physical mobility. IaH has proven to be a key mechanism for widening participation and embedding global perspectives institution-wide.
Background and objectives
The initiative was developed to address several challenges:
- Limited access to physical mobility due to financial, structural, or personal barriers
- Internationalisation being perceived mainly as “going abroad”
- Segregation between local and international students
The main objectives were to:
- Make internationalisation inclusive and accessible for all students
- Increase both short- and long-term mobility participation
- Embed global and intercultural competences into curricula
- Strengthen students’ transversal skills such as teamwork, adaptability, and cross-cultural communication
- Position the institution as globally connected and future-oriented
Implementation was led by the International Office, focusing on both curricular and campus-based activities.
Curriculum-related activities included:
- Study programmes and short courses taught in English
- Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Programmes
- An International Summer School with field trips across Croatia
- International guest lecturers (virtual and on-site)
- Internationalised course content within Croatian-taught programmes
Campus and extracurricular activities included:
- A Buddy Programme connecting local and international students
- Intercultural events such as International Weeks, fairs, and networking activities
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Results and impact
The initiative has led to measurable and sustained impact:
- 49% increase in student Buddies between 2023/2024 and 2024/2025
- 15% of local students participated in BIPs or the International Summer School in 2024/2025
- 49.15% increase in outgoing mobility between 2022/2023 and 2024/2025
- 81.36% increase in outgoing mobility compared to 2021/2022
Beyond numbers, the initiative has strengthened intercultural learning, student engagement, and the integration of international and local student communities.
Lessons learned
The Buddy Programme has become a cornerstone of IaH, with highly engaged local students acting as ambassadors and co-creators of international activities. Short programmes taught in English—such as BIPs and the International Summer School—have proven particularly effective in engaging home students.
Key lessons include:
- Internationalisation at Home requires institutional commitment, not only individual projects
- Student involvement is critical to creating a welcoming and sustainable international environment
- IaH models are highly transferable and can be adapted across disciplines and institutional contexts
Algebra Bernays University encourages other institutions to expand Internationalisation at Home initiatives to ensure that international learning becomes a standard part of the student experience.
Learn more
Algebra Buddy Program – Sveučilište Algebra Bernays
Welcome Week – Sveučilište Algebra Bernays
Algebra Winter BIPs 2025: week of innovation and collaboration – Sveučilište Algebra Bernays
Blended Intensive Programmes – Sveučilište Algebra Bernays
We will be back next week with another inspiring good practice from one of our members. It is not too late to submit yours. To do so, please contact eurashe@eurashe.eu