Internationalisation Strategy

General Terms

Our internationalisation strategy is a key element of the overall development strategy and an efficient tool to secure our competitiveness in the international educational community.

It is vital to create a university able to respond properly to economic and political challenges and to mitigate them where possible.

To be a modern university means that the international aspect is interwoven in all areas of our activities, from educational and research activities to administrative and organisational activities.

The university views internationalisation as a way to

improve the quality of all its activities and at all levels of management,
provide high quality educational and research activities and compliance of education programmes with the modern requirements of the national and international labour markets,
enhance international competitiveness of educational activities,
strengthen research capacity and promote its attractiveness on the international market for educational services.

Analysis of the current status of international activities at VSU

The results of an internal analysis which was held within the international Erasmus+ project “Developing Approaches to Internationalisation Strategy Harmonising in the Area of Higher Education, Science, and Innovation in the EU, Russia, Belarus, and Armenia” revealed the university’s strengths and shortcomings in terms of internationalisation. The analysis was held within the following sections:

Introduction of the Bologna system into the educational process
Internationalisation of the university’s management system
Incoming academic mobility
Outgoing academic mobility
Internationalisation of academic programmes
International impact of the university and its position compared to other universities
Research and educational projects

The analysis revealed the following strengths:

A positive image of VSU both in Russia and abroad
High positions in international and Russian rankings
Convenient geographical location
Highly qualified academic staff
Diverse academic programmes (including 170 courses within various academic programmes taught in English; there are also opportunities to complete courses in French and German)
Developed infrastructure
Availability of modern information resources (university website with information available in 6 foreign languages (English, French, Spanish, German, Chinese, and Arabic) as opposed to European partner universities where the choice of languages is restricted to English
Highly qualified staff at the International Cooperation Department
Participation in bilateral and multilateral international exchange programmes for undergraduate and postgraduate students, academic staff, and researchers
Organisation of international conferences, symposiums, congresses, and other events
Participation in international research and educational programmes
System of curators and social adaptation for international students

The internal analysis showed that the following factors inhibit internationalisation at VSU:

Discrepancies in academic programmes and evaluation systems, high tuition fees for international students
Lack of interest in academic mobility programmes
Shortage of knowledge about the organisation of educational processes abroad
Low level of students’ engagement in the management of the university
Insufficient knowledge of foreign languages among university staff members and lack of motivation to teach in English
Underdeveloped system of long-term partnerships with international invited lecturers
Insufficient number of joint academic and research programmes with international universities, research institutes, and organisations
Lack of facilities
Low level of international publication activities
Absence of a support and motivation system for research, invention, and the implementation of activities at VSU

Major areas of the action plan for internationalisation

The analysis and VSU strategic development goals was used to develop areas, activities, and indicators of international activities, which were grouped by the nature of their impact:

Academic activities
Research activities
Administrative activities

Internationalisation of academic activities

Mission:

To train specialists who meet the requirements of the world labour market
To shape an education environment for the personal and professional development of students by means of switching to student-oriented training
To contribute to the international learning experience of students at all levels and in different forms
To increase the number of international students at all levels of education and to achieve a proportional number of exchange students from international universities
To increase the international competitiveness of the university

Activities	Mechanisms	Key Results	Target Indicators
Implementing network/double degree programmes	Internationalisation of curricula Developing and implementing interdisciplinary academic programmes in cooperation with international partner universities Creating and implementing modular interdisciplinary academic programmes Developing linguistic competences among the university's academic staff Increasing the number of courses in foreign languages Developing innovative teaching and learning projects based on research in humanities and natural sciences Introducing a research-based approach Developing online services for students in the English language Accreditation of academic programmes by international accreditation agencies Performing an international independent expert examination of academic programmes	Developing, approving, accrediting, and opening joint master’s programmes: “Mobile Applications and Video Games” (specialisation “Fundamental Informatics and Information Technologies”. In cooperation with: Linköping University (Sweden), the Polytechnic University of Tomar (Portugal), the University of Derby (Great Britain), Tallinn University (Estonia), Baku State University (Azerbaijan), Baku Engineering University (Azerbaijan). “Computer Radiophysics” (specialisation “Radiophysics”). In cooperation with: University of Technology of Belfort-Montbeliard (France), University of L'Aquila (Italy), Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg (Germany), Changchun University of Science and Technology (China), Lanzhou University of Technology (China). “Ecological Monitoring and Environmental Impact Assessment” (specialisation “Ecology and Natural Resource Management”). In cooperation with: the University of Göttingen (Germany), Slovak University of Agriculture (Nitra, Slovakia), the Tuscia University (Viterbo, Italy), the University of Parma (Italy). “European Studies” (specialisation “International Regional Studies”). In cooperation with: the Sapienza University of Rome (Italy), Tartu University (Estonia). “Computer Modelling and Artificial Intelligence Systems” (specialisation "Mathematics and Computer Sciences", “Information Systems and Technologies”). In cooperation with: the Sapienza University of Rome (Italy), Tartu University (Estonia). "International Business” (specialisation “Management”). In cooperation with: KU Leuven (Belgium), Ca' Foscari University (Venice, Italy). “Nanophotonics” (Specialisation “Physics”). In cooperation with: University of Granada (Spain). “Physics of Nanosystems” (specialisation “Physics”). In cooperation with: Albert Ludwig University (Freiburg, Germany). “Analytical Chemistry” (specialisation “Chemistry”). In cooperation with: Tartu University (Estonia). “Nuclear Physics” (specialisation “Nuclear Physics and Nuclear Technologies”). In cooperation with: Ataturk University (Erzurum, Turkey)	Number of joint bachelor’s programmes Total number of students, including international, completing joint bachelor’s programmes Number of joint master’s programmes Total number of students, including international, completing joint master’s programmes Number of courses taught in foreign languages Number of academic programmes taught in foreign languages Number of academic staff members with an intermediate/advanced level of mastering a foreign language (B2, C1, C2) according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages in relation to the total number of academic staff members Number of lecturers giving lectures on technical disciplines in a foreign language in relation to the total number of academic staff members
Enhancing academic mobility	Improving the implementation of academic mobility agreements, including regular revision of the existing agreements with international universities and their intensification Activities contributing to receiving academic mobility grants (Erasmus+ agreements with international universities) Introducing procedures to recognise time spent training at foreign universities, namely the European Credit system for Vocational Education and Training Actively engaging academic and research staff in academic mobility programmes Providing information support and improving academic mobility opportunities for young researchers Introducing externship opportunities in student mobility programmes	Developing and implementing academic mobility programmes in the framework of bilateral agreements with leading international universities Cooperation with international universities aimed at preparing projects and receiving Erasmus+ academic mobility grants Recognising over 60% of credits received while studying at a foreign university Agreements with international universities about organising joint practical trainings	Number of cooperation agreements within which at least one academic exchange has taken place Number of credits to be transferred for each student by the end of the academic mobility programme in relation to the total number of credits Number of credits recognised by the home university at the end of the training period at an international university in relation to the total number of credits within the programme Number of Erasmus+ agreements with international universities Number of lecturers giving lectures at international universities Number of lecturers taking part in academic mobility programmes in relation to the total number of academic stuff members
Development of a PR strategy aimed at improving awareness about the university’s academic programmes at the international level	Developing programmes for international themed summer and winter schools Creating short-term test courses for international students to promote university programmes Creating the programme “Education – Science – Production” that allows international master’s students to complete short-term internships in major organisations in the region Developing a strategy for international graduates	Developing a programme for and holding the annual international summer school “Russian language and culture” Developing a programme for and holding the annual international summer school “Topological Methods of Analysis” Developing a programme for and holding the annual international summer school “Russia – EU Relations: History, Culture, and Economics” Developing a programme for and holding the annual international summer school “Natural Resources of Central Russian Upland and their Protection” Developing a programme and holding the annual international summer school “Linguistic Picture of the World Reflected in Multilingualism and Multiculturalism”	Number of summer/winter schools regularly held at the university Number of students taking part in summer/winter schools Number of international participants studying at specified summer school courses Number of events with university graduates among their participants

Internationalisation of research activities

Mission:

To enhance the research outputs of the university
To intensify innovative activities
To extend diversity of research areas
To increase the level of academic staff
To enhance international research mobility
To enhance the appeal of university researchers for international employers
To enhance the appeal of the university as an employer in terms of building a research career at the international level

Activities	Mechanisms	Key Results	Target Indicators
Implementation of research projects with the participation of leading international and Russian scientists or in cooperation with international universities or research institutions	Participation in international research programmes Providing extended information and consulting services concerning international funded programmes	Implementing international research projects International strategic partnerships for joint research	Number of international research projects implemented by the university Number of applications submitted for international research contests Number of academic staff members involved in the preparation and implementation of international research projects
Enhancing cooperation with international universities, research institutions, and enterprises	Creating international research and training centres in top-priority research areas Flexible research profiling based on regional and global challenges and changes in society and the academic community Creating a research park Active participation in international and European cooperative research networks Holding international research events (scientific and practical conferences, forums, symposiums, and scientific seminars) Staff participation in international research events Publications in international journals Joint publications with international researchers		Number of joint research centres in top-priority areas in cooperation with international partner universities Number of staff members employed at joint research centres created in cooperation with international partner universities Number of students of different levels who have completed internships at the Research Park Number of international students of different levels who have completed internships at the Research Park Number of international researchers who have conducted research at the Research Park Number of international research events held at the university Number of international research events with the participation of VSU staff

Internationalisation of the Shared Governance, Administration, and Management systems

Mission:

To develop a shared understanding of and a consistent approach to internationalisation at the administrative level of the university
To provide a background for the integration of the international element in all areas of the university’s activities

Activities	Mechanisms	Key Results	Target Indicators
Creating a multilevel system for international activities management	Creating and approving the internationalisation strategy as part of the university’s development strategy Developing higher education internationalisation competencies among administrative and academic staff Creating a system of financing international activities Developing a language strategy (ensuring all administrative information is available in the English language, providing orientation in the English language in university buildings and on campuses) Creating an adaptation programme for international students and invited lecturers	Internationalisation strategy Continuous development and updating of the internationalisation strategy Creating a team of vice-deans for internationalisation Advanced training programmes in intercultural competencies Single translation service	Action plans for internationalisation Number of administrative and academic staff members who have completed advanced training in internationalisation in Russia and oversees
Promoting the university at the international level	Monitoring the university’s positions in international rankings and identifying criteria to evaluate the university’s performance Developing and promoting the concept of strategic partnerships and top-priority regions Membership in international associations, organisations, and clubs Participation in international education weeks and international fairs Holding international informational events (days of international education, etc.)	Representative offices of the university in countries where we have strategic partnerships	Number of international organisations which the university has membership in Number of international educational fairs which the university has participated in Number of international informational events held at the university Number of international university websites with information about the university and educational and employment opportunities it provides Number of branches/representative offices/centres