OeAD Higher Education Conference 2021: a review

The basic theme of the OeAD Higher Education Conference 2021 was post-pandemic changes and the discussion of internationalisation concepts that include sustainability and climate awareness. The conflicting areas of physical mobility and environmental awareness, virtual distance and personal closeness as well as economic efficiency and inclusion were discussed in presentations and discussion forums with the aim of developing possible strategies for future action. More than 350 people participated online in the presentations and discussions, in forums and workshops, and in complementary webinars.

Below you will find the video recordings and presentations to listen to and read. Further recordings as well as short summaries of the results from the thematic forums will be added shortly.

Listen & Read

Pre-Conference Evening Event (22 November 2021)

Welcome and evening lecture by Ilija Trojanow: "Utopien im globalen Zusammenhang" (“Utopias in a global context”) (video recording on OeAD Youtube)
In his guest lecture Ilija Trojanow talked about utopias in a global context. He argued that it is time for new radical thinking – a new utopia. 

Plenary Session and Discussion 'Green Internationalisation' (23 November 2021)

Welcome Jakob Calice (OeAD) & Barbara Weitgruber (BMBWF)

The Future of Academic Mobility – Digitisation, Internationalisation, Sustainability (PDF)  
(video recording on OeAD Youtube)
Elisa Bruhn-Zaß (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit – GIZ) 

Green Internationalisation. Observations & Recommendations from a European Study
(in English) (PDF) 
(video recording on OeAD Youtube)
Mika Saarinen (EduFi – Finnish National Agency for Education) 

Sustainability initiatives of Austrian higher education institutions – three insights

• Margarita Calderón-Peter (University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna) (PDF) (video recording on OeAD Youtube)
• Ingrid Pleschberger (University of Applied Sciences BFI Vienna) (PDF) (video recording on OeAD Youtube)
• Sabine Weisz (University College of Teacher Education Burgenland) (PDF) (video recording on OeAD Youtube)

Panel discussion

Shaping the internationalisation of higher education institutions in a climate-friendly way. How do we reconcile aspirations and realities? (video recording on OeAD Youtube)
Discussion by Elisabeth Brunner-Sobanski (FH Campus Wien University of Applied Sciences), Jakob Calice (OeAD), Günter Getzinger (Graz University of Technology & Alliance of Sustainable Universities) and Barbara Weitgruber (BMBWF). Hosted by: Gerhard Volz (OeAD)

Erasmus+ 2022 – Preview of major new developments (PDF)
Martin Gradl (OeAD)

New developments in the OeAD scholarship and grant programmes (PDF)
Lydia Skarits (OeAD)

Thematic Forums (23 November 2021)

Forum 1: New forms of teaching and learning
(video recording on OeAD Youtube) ((Summary, PDF)
with contributions from Günther Berger (Salzburg University of Applied Sciences) and Elisabeth Pelikan (University of Vienna). Hosted by: Katharina Cepak, Julia Österbauer-Vabitsch (OeAD)

Forum 2: Social sustainability is more: Gender and diversity
(video recording on OeAD Youtube) ((Summary, PDF)
with contributions from Susanne Hamscha (factor-D-Diversity-Consulting) and Ingrid Schacherl (Academy of Fine Arts Vienna). Hosted by: Lisa Edelbacher, Maria Unger (OeAD)

Forum 3: Short and hybrid: Blended Learning as a challenge for mobility
(video recording on OeAD Youtube) ((Summary, PDF)
with contributions from Christopher Rindhauser (Vienna University of Economics and Business) and Ioan Turcin (FH Campus 02 University of Applied Sciences). Hosted by: Margit Dirnberger, Veronika Fuchshuber (OeAD)

Forum 4: International approaches to “Green Internationalisation”
(video recording on OeAD Youtube) ((Summary, PDF)
with a contribution from Karin Dobernig (Wiener Neustadt University of Applied Sciences). Hosted by: Lukas Alexander, Rainer Einzenberger (OeAD)

Workshops, trainings, consultations and interaction (24–26 November 2021)

24 November 2021

• Erasmus+ KA131 – Developments in processing and tools (video recording on OeAD Youtube)
  Current questions on programme management including the use of programme management tools in Aktion KA131
• News regarding the law relating to aliens and entry regulations (video recording on OeAD Youtube)
  Information about Austrian entry regulations and procedures at the Austrian authorities for students and researchers from third countries
• HMIS platform: Background, purpose and added value for universities (video recording on OeAD Youtube)
  Information on the background, purpose and added value for universities

25 November 2021

• Using Erasmus+ for global mobility (video recording on OeAD Youtube) (PDF)
  Information about the application round in the Aktion International Higher Education Mobility in winter/spring 2022
• OeAD project funding: Partner countries and partner institutions (video recording on OeAD Youtube) (PDF)
  Overview of OeAD funding with partner countries and partner institutions
• Erasmus Mundus, Excellence programme for international Joint Master’s programmes (video recording on OeAD Youtube) (PDF)
  Information about Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s (EMJM) and Master’s programmes (= Joint Programmes)

26 November 2021

• Capacity Building in Higher Education, new ways to cooperate with third countries (video recording on OeAD Youtube) (PDF)
  Information about the Capacity Building in Higher Education (CBHE) programme
• Webinar Post-Covid Societies? – Examples from Africa (video recording on OeAD Youtube)
  Workshop on the consequences of Covid-19 for higher education in East Africa and the increased importance of digitization as a consequence of the pandemic

Contributions to the other forums and webinars will be added shortly.

Photo Gallery Higher Education Conference 2021