BUiLD Centre of Excellence in Disaster Resilience at Universitas Islam Indonesia coordinates sharing session on university internationalisation activities during the Covid-19 pandemic
The Covid-19 pandemic has impacted the internationalization on higher education institutions, which includes the mobility and international activities implemented by academic and non-academic staff as well as students. The issue of mobility prohibition by the Government of almost all countries in the world affects the internationalization activities. Hence, this can be the obstacles to achieve the targeted institutional goals that have been set this year.
Many universities located in South-east Asia and South Asia have been closed because of this global pandemic1 and shifted to online activities. On the other hand, this pandemic situation may become a good opportunity for the university to make some improvements. Of course, it is in the context of enhancing global quality by maintaining close
partnerships and networking with partner universities overseas, both individual and institutional.
Also, many considerations have emerged as the impact of the pandemic situation relating to financial guarantees, personal security, social issues, and critical business process in the university itself, such as prospective student admission both national and international students. Listening and learning from various perspectives of global academic experts can be one alternative to strengthen the partnerships in limits; which at the same time to build a synergy to collaborate among institutions for developing strategic steps and relevant policies during the pandemic.
Hence, solutions related to mobility and internationalization can still be implemented in different methods. Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen the internal capacities within universities to respond the needs of the international students and staff, to redraw the internationalization goals at higher education, and to take appropriate action plans to solve the problems as results of the Covid-19 pandemic.
On the 23rd April 2020, the Department of Partnerships/Office of International Affairs (DP/OIA) as a supporting unit for partnerships and internationalization at UII conducted a webinar with the topic ‘Internationalization Activities in Higher Education during the Covid-19 Pandemic: A Sharing Session from UK and Taiwan’.
The objectives of the webinar conducted were to inform the attendees about: (1) the UK and Taiwan Government policies on mobility and internationalization activities in higher education during the Covid-19 pandemic and its impact on the university activities that may include the impact on academic/non-academic staff, students and the internationalization strategy, and (2) the mitigation process from the university to respond this Covid-19 pandemic.
This activity plan as part of the webinar series and talk show about “Mobility and Internationalization during Covid-19 Pandemic at Global Higher Education” is expected to give a contribution for all university partners to redesign the programs and strategies for global engagement during this outbreak.
