The paradox of internationalisation and sustainability: to what extent is sustainable internationalisation possible?

The paradox of internationalisation and sustainability: to what extent is sustainable internationalisation possible?

Online event for EUF universities

Date: March 29th, 2023, 10:30 – 12:30 CEST

Registration is open to staff members from EUF network universities.

 

Environmental sustainability is currently among the top priorities at European level, and sustainability principles are increasingly considered in all aspects of Higher Education. Given the importance of internationalisation, it is urgent that it becomes more sustainable as well. However, one of its components – international mobility – has a particularly high CO2 footprint due to its reliance on air travel. Reducing international mobility and cooperation clearly isn’t an option, and international mobility numbers are expected to rise in the next few years. With this in mind, we need to ask ourselves: in what ways and to what extent is a sustainable internationalisation approach possible? 

Through this session, we aim to explore the topic of sustainable internationalisation, the strategies and decisions made by University leadership, together with their views on how it can be transformed further. We will also have the chance to delve into the initiatives of EUF members that strive to make internationalisation more sustainable. 

This session is chaired by Jan Borm, Vice-President in charge of International Relations at the University of Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines (UVSQ), associate member of the University Paris-Saclay.

 

Agenda
Welcome and Introduction
Current initiatives to make internationalisation more sustainable

Environmentally friendly travel with Erasmus+
Sami Patrikainen Skogstad and Halvard Ones (Western Norway University of Applied Sciences)

Sustainability initiatives for staff mobility
Leonard Creutzburg (University of Zurich)
Q&A
Short break
Group discussion
- What can be done now to make internationalisation more sustainable? Actions and resources available
- What is the future of mobility? How do we see Erasmus mobility in a decade?
- Is green business travel a utopia?
Presentation of discussion outcomes
Final conclusions and wrap up