Internationalization strategy 20-25

VU internationalization strategy 2020-2025

• International Relations and Reputation

  VU Amsterdam collaborates with universities and organizations worldwide, with a focus beyond the Euro-American axis. This shows in our: 

  • Research and teaching collaborations that are often with partners in Africa, Asia or Latin America. 
  • International impact reputation through partnerships, accreditations and rankings. 
  • Investment in meaningful (European) networks and alliances.
  • Recruitment efforts outside of Europe, taking into consideration student demographics worldwide. 
  • Active engagement strategy with our international alumni.

• One Community

  We provide students and staff with a stimulating mixed classroom environment. International diversity is just one aspect of the diversity encountered in the mixed classroom. Therefore we: 

  • Develop specific didactic approaches to create added value out of the large diversity of perspectives and backgrounds, thereby developing its students’ transversal skills. 
  • Support extensive integration of local and international students and staff and builds an inclusive community for all.

• Mobility for Quality

  Internationalization efforts on mobility are focused on improving quality of its student population, its (academic) staff body and of its teaching programs. We do this by:

  • Consciously recruiting international talents (degree/non-degree Bachelor and Master students, PhD students and academic staff) who increase the quality of teaching programs through their contribution in the Mixed Classroom.  
  • Developing joint Bachelor, Master and PhD programs with structured mobility in collaboration with foreign universities, offering students the best of us in combination with the best of our partners. 
  • Widening participation in study abroad for a diverse student population, by offering a wider variety of qualitative short- and longterm studying abroad opportunities.

• Glocalization

  VU Amsterdam takes up the challenge to reconcile a global outlook with local impact, here and around the world. At home, we specifically focus on combatting crowding out effects, such as dealing with language issues, fighting student housing shortages, offering career services and improving labor readiness for all students. We do this by: 

  • Bringing together people from different backgrounds and disciplines to explore and study the global challenges and to contribute to innovative solutions to existing problems. 
  • Building a local network of stakeholders from government, industry, educational institutes, non-profits and the surrounding community to make a local impact.