Welcome and integrate international students through student-centred teaching initiatives

Category of recipe: Internationalisation through national and international students.

Objective: Attracting International students.

Short description: Welcome and integrate international students in their first undergraduate experience by creating interactive and student-centred learning environments. This includes structured group activities, peer mentorship, and cultural exchange elements integrated into classroom dynamics. This recipe fosters a welcoming environment and builds meaningful connections with local students, enhancing the overall experience of international students.

Academic recognition: Certificates of participation. This incentive formally recognises international students’ engagement in structured activities such as peer mentoring, intercultural projects, and collaborative learning experiences. The certification serves as a valuable addition to their academic and professional portfolios, highlighting their adaptability and global competencies.

Level of difficulty: Basic

Calendar and time needed: Ongoing throughout the academic year.

Cost summary: €€ (costs may vary depending on institutional resources and the scale of activities implemented.)

Budget description:
Cost for the organising institution:

• Institutionally funded training courses in student‑centred methodologies for professors.
• Development and implementation of a material translation system for lecture notes or resources to support international students.
• Additional costs for welcoming events, social activities, and symbolic items (e.g., goodies, welcome kits) to enhance student integration and sense of belonging.

Budget Type / Sources of Revenue:

• Institutionally funded, with possible grants or subsidies from national educational agencies.
• Erasmus+ funding may be available depending on the programme’s alignment with mobility and inclusion objectives.

Language and level required: Intermediate-high level of English (B2 or C1) to ensure active participation in academic and social activities.

Roles and Responsibilities:
Professors: Responsible for integrating international students through interactive learning activities, such as group discussions, case studies, and peer mentoring exercises. Faculty members also support language accessibility by providing multilingual materials and fostering an inclusive learning environment.
Heads of Programmes: Oversee the programme implementation, support the allocation of resources, and encourage faculty to attend relevant training.
International Relations Office: Provides guidance on available resources, supports partnerships with local students, and promotes integration activities across campus.
Advisor in Internationalisation (if there is such a person in the university): Supports the implementation of student-centred methodologies and ensures alignment with institutional internationalisation objectives.
Pedagogical Engineers (if there are some in the university): Assist in the design of interactive learning experiences and development of digital tools for engagement.

Ingredients:
Training courses on student‑centric methodologies for university staff.
Information on mentorship programmes for international students.
Pairing initiatives between international and local students.
Cultural integration activities in classrooms.
Feedback mechanisms for international students’ needs.
Language support materials (e.g., translated lecture notes, multilingual resources).

Recipe steps:
Step 1 (Pre-recipe): Head of programme should attend courses offered by the institution on student‑centric methodologies.
Step 2 (Pre-recipe): Compile information on mentoring programmes offered by the institution to incoming students.
Step 3 (Recipe): Disseminate information on mentoring programmes to incoming students. Provide a clear overview of the benefits (e.g., academic support, cultural integration, networking opportunities) and possible structures (e.g., one‑on‑one mentoring, peer groups, faculty mentorship). A dedicated resource document listing different mentoring models and their advantages should be available in the resources section.
Step 4 (Recipe): Pair local and international students in student‑centric activities during lectures, giving them the option to select a preferred partnership structure. Enable meaningful, competency‑based learning experiences such as peer‑led discussions and study sessions.
Step 5 (Recipe): Integrate cultural activities into classroom sessions and dedicated events with larger audiences, providing international students opportunities to share their cultural backgrounds. These activities should encourage meaningful exchanges, ensuring that students have a voice in how their culture is represented and experienced by others.
Step 6 (Recipe): Conduct feedback surveys or focus groups that include international students to continuously assess the programme’s effectiveness.
Step 7 (Recipe): Offer and advertise language support materials.

Non-mandatory items:

Successful examples: The professor organises student groups for graded assignments and values the inclusion of an international incoming student in each group as a support system and reference point. Additionally, when providing examples or explanations, the professor encourages integrating insights on how similar processes occur in the students’ home countries, ensuring that this knowledge is recognised and valued in the classroom.