NEBRIJA UNIVERSITY: THE VALUE OF INTERNATIONALISATION IN HIGHER EDUCATION

JORGE HERNANDO CUÑADO

Going abroad for an academic year at university is becoming more and more important in higher education. The origin of this practice is quite old; it started in the 17th century with the ‘Grand Tour’: Upper-class wealthy young men (British nobility) travelled through Europe in order to learn and experience the wonders of classical culture. Paris and Rome were key destinations in this educational experience. This tradition has been democratised in modern times, and most universities offer foreign exchange programmes nowadays. But what is the value of going abroad during university?

First of all, the experience. Going abroad widens the horizons of the student: new cultures, new places, and new ways of getting things done. It is very useful to get out of the ‘comfort zone’ to acquire new skills and knowledge (travel broadens the mind). In order to do so, it is more useful living for a period of time in a foreign country than just holiday travelling for a few days or weeks. The students get to really know cities, countries, universities and people; this requires time. Nebrija University in Madrid receives and sends students abroad every academic course. There are more than 400 agreements with foreign universities to send and receive students. The satisfaction of these students is very high; it is a life-changing experience.

Another important reason to go abroad is to learn and improve foreign languages. Learning languages is not only good for your brain (it could help to prevent and postpone dementia and Alzheimer’s) but also opens new perspectives (see the world from a broader point of view) and is a way to understand and learn from foreign cultures. Learning languages is a cornerstone of Nebrija University which began its ‘Centro de Estudios Hispánicos’ (Center for Hispanic Studies) in 1985. Every year we receive many international students who want to learn or improve the Spanish language.

The international experience and speaking foreign languages are also good for the curriculum vitae. It is also good preparation for work: it is essential to be able to cooperate and work with different nationalities, and this is crucial in the ‘day-to-day’ activities of multinational companies. At Nebrija, we follow a ‘learning by doing’ method and have

“It is very useful to get out of the ‘comfort zone’ to acquire new skills and knowledge (travel broadens the mind). In order to do so, it is more useful living for a period of time in a foreign country than just holiday travelling for a few days or weeks.” students from all over the world. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, 83 per cent of our students came from abroad last year.

There are also other reasons to increase internationalisation in higher education, such as enriching the academic quality and adopting the practices and methods of highly recognised foreign academic institutions. From a business standpoint, it has the potential to increase revenue by enlarging the talent pool from which companies recruit.

In Europe, the European Union supports student exchange programmes among its members via the ‘Erasmus Plus’ programme, the estimated budget for which is €26.2 billion for the period 2021-2027. This is a very important action for the European Union as it focuses on social inclusion, green and digital transition, and encourages young people to participate in democracy. The programme started 35 years ago and has been very successful in strengthening relations among the countries of the European Union. In relation to universities, the European

Union funds part of the costs that students incur when studying abroad (transport, accommodation, etc.). Nebrija University sends and receives students through the Erasmus+ programme every year. Spain is one of the most popular destinations for Erasmus students in Europe given the quality of Spanish universities, the value of the language, and the Spanish way of life.

Given the benefits attached to the internalisation of education, the question is how higher education institutions can develop it further.

In non-English speaking universities, the syllabus must offer a range of subjects in English to attract students who don´t speak the native language. However, it is also important to provide subjects in the native language for those students who want to study the language of the country. Nebrija University offers many subjects in English and Spanish that exchange students can choose when registering.

Courses which allow students to learn languages are a must for internationalisation. The location of the academic institution is also very important. As happens with tourism, some countries and cities are more attractive than others when studying abroad. Another key aspect to consider is the support international students receive when studying abroad; the universities should develop a strategy for this. It is also a good idea to analyse the ‘customer journey’ of international students when visiting a university and identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT Analysis). However, students are not the only target of internationalisation; professors and staff are important too. It is fundamental that professors visit, lecture, and complete research stays in foreign universities. This way, they also learn the methodologies, activities and research being carried out in other countries, which should positively impact the home institution. It is also important to ‘receive’ professors and staff from foreign universities so they can also lecture or contribute to research. The objective is that both universities (foreign and home) benefit from the experience as a quid pro quo. This could be the road to academic distinction. Overall, excellence is a key factor when attracting talent in the form of students, professors and staff. Professors from Nebrija lecture and visit foreign universities every academic year and are in contact with the most advanced methodologies from very prestigious institutions.

It is also essential to mix foreign and local students, and this must be taken into consideration when planning lessons and creating academic calendars. It is advisable to create a series of activities that facilitate the relationship between local and exchange students. One that is usually very successful is conversation exchange between students; it is a good way to speak and improve a second language. It is also a good way of making friends. Excursions and trips are also a very good way to mix students. At Nebrija, there are all kinds of clubs for students. The conversation exchange club is called ‘club Internacional’, but there are many others: sports, nature, theatre, cinema, etc.

Another key point to remember is listening to the students, professors and staff; their opinion and evaluation are important. When taking the right action, complaints are a blessing in disguise as they highlight weak points which can be improved. It is also important to analyse the environment (competitors, state, country situation, etc.) every year in order to apply a strategy that allows the university to achieve its objectives. The COVID-19 pandemic was a very difficult time for internationalisation in higher education, but it looks like we are leaving this terrible period behind and making up for lost time. This is why students at Nebrija University can once again study a Master’s in Business Administration focused on entrepreneurship that includes a short stay at Babson College, one of the most prestigious institutions from which to learn entrepreneurship.

The bottom line is that universities must be open to knowledge and excellence, and internationalisation is a good road to get this job done.