Speakers
Irina Ferencz
Mervin Bakker
Rachel Sandison
Kai Sicks
Session
✅ Included for all participants
ℹ️ Panel (informative)
💡 Relevant to all
National strategies for internationalisation play an important role in the internationalisation activities of higher education institutions across Europe. Current strategies are being developed in response to shifting narratives and growing complexities in the global and national higher education landscape. Building on recent research, this session will explore notable trends in existing and emerging strategies, including the role of European Universities alliances, among other instruments.
Irina Ferencz works as Director of the Academic Cooperation Association (ACA), the European association of national level organisations for international cooperation in higher education. She is professionally active in the field of higher education since 2008, having a specific expertise in the areas of student and staff mobility in the European context (data collections, trends, policies), as well as in assessing and advising on strategic internationalisation activities at institutional and national level. Her expertise is derived from working directly with higher education institutions, funding organisations and policy-makers at national and European level, stakeholder bodies, and international data collectors, on comparative, policy-oriented initiatives, and projects, resulting in multiple publications. She holds an advanced master’s degree in EU policies and politics from the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (Belgium) and an undergraduate degree from the Babeş-Bolyai University (Romania) in international relations and European studies.
Professor Rachel Sandison OBE is responsible for leading the University of Glasgow’s strategy for external engagement covering an integrated portfolio of International Policy and Partnerships; Marketing and Communications; Brand and Reputation Management; Transnational Education; Student Recruitment and Admissions; Widening Access and Lifelong Learning; Development and Alumni Relations; and Civic Engagement. Rachel is also the University’s Sanctuary Champion.
Rachel is the University’s Universitas 21 network Senior Leader, a Board member of the University’s European network, The Guild, and the University lead for the CIVIS European University Alliance, thereby supporting the activity of a global group of research-intensive universities.
Rachel is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, a Global Trustee and chair-elect of the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), the Scottish Commissioner for Fulbright US-UK and the Scottish Government's Trade and Investment Envoy for International Education, whilst also contributing to several sector advisory boards both at home and overseas.
Kai Sicks has served as Secretary General of the DAAD since April 2021. After studying German Studies and Political Science in Frankfurt and Vienna, he earned his doctorate in Modern German Literature from the University of Vienna in 2008. He held research fellowships at institutions including the German Historical Institute in Washington, D.C., and Cornell University in the USA. He subsequently held positions at Justus Liebig University Giessen and, from 2013, at the University of Bonn, where he most recently served as Head of the International Office. Kai Sicks is a member of the boards of trustees of the German University in Cairo (GUC) and the Turkish-German University (TDU), among others.