Internationalisation as a challenge for the future of higher education

International experiences are already part of everyday life on many degree programmes: students learn in international groups, lecturers design cross-border teaching formats, and European university alliances open up new forms of collaboration. But what challenges – and positive experiences – are associated with these initiatives? How can internationality be embedded not just in isolated instances, but across the board in study and teaching? These are the questions that Teaching Day 2026 at the Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg will address under the motto ‘unlockEDucation. Internationality as a mindset’.

On behalf of the University Management, Professor Andreas Dörpinghaus, Vice-President for Studies, Teaching and Quality Management, and Professor Doris Fischer, Vice-President for Internationalisation and Alumni, cordially invite all teaching staff, students and interested members of staff at the University of Würzburg.

The event centres on the concept of internationality as a mindset: as a perspective that can enrich teaching and learning and have a lasting impact on everyday university life. The focus will be on various approaches to internationalisation, ranging from study abroad programmes and international collaborations to concepts of ‘internationalisation at home’, which enable international and intercultural experiences right here on campus.

Perspectives from academia and European higher education development

The event will begin with opening addresses by renowned experts. Speakers include Dr Tanja Reiffenrath (University of Göttingen), who specialises in the internationalisation of curricula; Prof. Dr Regina Egetenmeyer (University of Würzburg), an educational scientist and designer of an international programme of study in adult education; and Jan Haarhuis, an educational innovator and co-founder of the European higher education alliance CHARM-EU. Together, they will offer various perspectives on how international teaching and learning contexts can be successfully designed.

Insights and best practice from the University of Würzburg

In addition to the opening presentations, the Teaching Day thrives above all on exchange within the university. Through practical examples and discussions, lecturers and staff from key departments at the University of Würzburg share their own experiences and invite participants to critically reflect on and further develop successful approaches. Introductory information sessions and ‘how-to’ workshops also present ways to incorporate more international elements into one’s own teaching.

Award for outstanding commitment

Another highlight of the programme is the presentation of the student awards for outstanding teaching. With this year’s award, students are honouring lecturers who have shown exceptional commitment to the internationalisation of courses and who promote international perspectives in both study and teaching.

Shaping the teaching of tomorrow together

Teaching Day 2026 is being organised by the Centre for Teaching and Learning (ZBL) in collaboration with CHARM-EU staff and the Office of the Vice-President for Internationalisation and Alumni.

It will take place on Wednesday, 18 November 2026, from 12 noon to 4.30 pm in Z6 on the Hubland Süd campus.

Teaching staff, students and anyone else interested in actively shaping the internationalisation of teaching at the university are invited to attend.

Participation is free of charge; to aid planning, the organising team asks that you register. Anyone requiring childcare must register by 4 November.

Immediately before Teaching Day, at 10.00 am, there will be an online talk on conflict management, organised by Gesunde Hochschule. In addition, the Faculty of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Würzburg is inviting young people in Years 7–9 to the Junior Conference at the Hubland Campus.

Information on the programme and registration.

Contact

Marie Gutermuth-Klein, Centre for Teaching and Learning, tagderlehre@uni-wuerzburg.de