AoFE hosts seminar on ¡°Internationalisation at Home: Strategies for Inclusive Global Engagement¡±

On December 3, Academy of Future Education (AoFE) successfully held the seminar seminar on ¡°Internationalisation at Home: Strategies for Inclusive Global Engagement¡±, organized by the Research Centre for Internationalisation (RCI). ?The event explored innovative strategies for advancing education internationalisation in East Asia and beyond, with a particular focus on integrating international perspectives into campus experiences and learning environments.

This year¡¯s seminar marked the first anniversary of RCI?and attracted wide attention from both within and outside the university. Over 40 XJTLU faculty and students joined the event, alongside more than 20 participants from 12 schools and organizations across Suzhou. The seminar featured leading experts including Professor Mei Li from East China Normal University and Professor Ka Ho Mok, Vice President of The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong, who shared their insights and experiences on the advancement of localized internationalisation practices.

Dr Jian Chen, Director of RCI at the Academy of Future Education, remarked that the centre is committed to developing innovative approaches to localized internationalisation that can benefit students who may not have the opportunity for cross-border mobility. In particular, the centre is currently exploring new models under the broader context of China¡¯s digitalization and artificial intelligence development to better support students¡¯ growth and global awareness.

Professor Xiaojun Zhang, XJTLU¡¯s Chief Officer for Education and the Executive Dean of the Academy of Future Education, outlined the university¡¯s internationalisation strategy, describing it as a multi-layered framework. The first layer focuses on building a diverse and multicultural community of students and staff, which serves as the foundation for intercultural integration and communication. The second level is the development of systems, platforms and mechanisms for internationalisation, with the core objective of providing comprehensive support to students to help them develop in their future careers, which includes providing them with the necessary resources, services and opportunities.

Reconstructing the Campus: Internationalisation on the Ground and Beyond

Professor Rong Wang, Deputy Director of the Internationalisation Research Centre; Professor Mei Li from East China Normal University; Dr Anisa Vahed from the Academy of Future Education; and Ms Kirsty Mattinson, Director of XJTLU¡¯s x-global initiative had a lively discussion with the participants on the topic of ¡°Reconstructing the Campus: internationalisation on the Ground and Beyond¡±. The discussion emphasized the multiple advantages of localized internationalisation, such as increased inclusiveness, accessibility, cost-effectiveness, and enhanced educational equity. Panelists shared successful practices such as Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL), which enables students to engage in intercultural exchange and develop global skills through virtual platforms without needing to travel abroad. The discussion also addressed how the COVID-19 pandemic has transformed the trajectory of internationalisation in higher education, highlighting the growing importance of virtual and hybrid formats in fostering global engagement.

From left: Ms Kirsty Mattinson, Professor Mei Li, Professor Rong Wang, Dr Anisa Vahed

In his keynote speech, Professor Ka Ho Mok discussed how The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong, as a young private institution, has adopted a range of localized internationalisation strategies. These include involving undergraduates in academic conferences, summer schools, teaching and outreach projects, as well as professional development programs for educators and practitioners. He also emphasized the importance of graduate student enrollment, academic development, and strategies to create better learning environments by collaborating with other institutions.

Professor Mei Li led a research workshop titled ¡°Localized Internationalisation: Theories and Chinese Experiences¡±, offering a comprehensive overview of internationalisation in higher education. She highlighted the complexity of researching this topic within English-language academic frameworks and described globalization as a process that intensifies interconnection and interdependence among countries. Professor Li distinguished between the concepts of student mobility and localized internationalisation, arguing that students can still acquire global competencies even without going abroad. She pointed out that the concept of ¡®providing students with content that includes a global perspective¡¯ refers to the integration of knowledge and skills related to globalization in the education system, including key skills such as digital literacy, teamwork, and cultural awareness, in order to develop the competencies needed by students in the context of globalization." In addition, she discussed the role of formal and informal curricula in developing students' international perspectives, as well as the importance of campus internationalisation and virtual mobility.

During her presentation, Professor Mei Li?shared an empirical research study in the seminar, which analyzed the practical achievements of two representative Sino-foreign universities¡ª XJTLU and the University of Nottingham Ningbo China¡ª in internationalisation of education. She pointed out that these two universities have played the role of forerunners in the wave of internationalisation of education, providing students with a unique international learning environment through a series of innovative educational models and practices.

¡°The multi-dimensional nature of internationalisation in higher education calls for innovative strategies to ensure that students will be able to adapt to the challenges of globalization in the future.¡± She concluded.

Following the workshop, participants engaged in group discussions centered around practical questions such as how to implement localized internationalisation in their own institutions, what exemplary models exist, and what policies or programs can effectively enhance students¡¯ global competencies. These exchanges aimed to foster mutual learning and expand the collective knowledge base for advancing international education.

XJTLU Student Mini-Research Presentation and Award Ceremony

The Internationalisation Research Centre also hosted a student micro-research competition focused on education internationalisation. Junfu Lu and Yutan Li won the second prize, and four students, Qi Qin, Xinyi Jiang, Yinyin Zhou and Zhihan Xia won the third prize.

Yutan Li, a master¡¯s student in International Education, presented a project on the role of Confucius Institutes in global education. Her research examined their contributions and challenges in promoting Chinese culture, language learning, and cross-cultural dialogue. The theme centered on the Confucius Institutes as an embodiment of China's soft power, exploring its ability to strengthen ties with countries through education and cooperation. The conclusion noted that over the past 20 years, Confucius Institutes have built cultural bridges connecting China and the world, promoting understanding and cooperation on a global scale and epitomizing cultural exchange in the age of globalization.

She said, "As a student majoring in internationalisation education, attending this seminar was full of inspiration for me. Being able to hear the perspectives of teachers from different countries and backgrounds, as well as the rich on-site exchanges at the event, gave me a new understanding of the theoretical and practical development of internationalisation in the field."

First-year undergraduate Junfu Lu focused his research on the mutual stereotypes and misunderstandings between China and South Africa in the field of art. His study found that such cultural misinterpretations could distort audiences¡¯ understanding of artworks and limit their willingness to engage with literature and media from different cultures. In addition, these stereotypes can lead to the deepening of cultural divides and prevent meaningful intercultural exchange and understanding. He advocated for educators and artists to work together in dismantling stereotypes and promoting art as a bridge for intercultural understanding and mutual respect.

The seminar also highlighted the ongoing development of research within the Academy of Future Education, which now houses four dedicated research centers: the Centre for AI and Education, the Centre for Strategic Leadership in Educational Innovation, the Centre for Family Education, and the Centre for Internationalisation Research. These centers aim to promote cutting-edge inquiry and collaboration across key areas in education, offering new perspectives and solutions to some of the most pressing challenges in the field.

By Xiaoyan Jin

Photo courtesy by Zhen Wang

Translated by Sichen Fan