The University of Bamberg's International Strategy
Open-Minded – Open to the World – Globally Committed
Preamble – A globally Connected University of the Future
Internationality is a core characteristic of the University of Bamberg's profile, and it is embraced and supported across the institution. Joint research and teaching endeavours around the world, global mobility and transnational responsibility are just as much core elements of its conceptual identity as internationality itself – both as a principle and an academic subject. As an internationally recognised research centre, the university maintains successful, long-standing partnerships with over 350 institutions in 70 countries. This dynamic network not only strengthens Bamberg's academic profile but also promotes global dialogue and facilitates mutual development. At the same time, the expansion of Internationalization@home – with its visiting professorships, digital collaborations, multilingual degree programmes, tandem programmes and international cultural events – also provides global perspectives right here.
The University of Bamberg regularly welcomes a significant number of international researchers, including recipients of Leibniz and Humboldt prizes, and ERC and Marie Curie grants. Each year, it appoints a Johann-von-Spix visiting professor and several diversity guest professors, and it successfully recruits international scholars. Our researchers are involved in projects around the globe, one such being the reconstruction of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. An increasing proportion of doctoral degrees earned in Bamberg are completed by international doctoral candidates or as part of cotutelle programmes. The Trimberg Research Academy (TRAc) graduate centre provides advisory services to doctoral candidates and postdoctoral researchers from around the world and supports them in planning international careers.
Relative to its size, the University of Bamberg has one of the most extensive student exchange programmes in Germany. Supported by a welcoming culture and an attractive portfolio of English-language degree programmes, double degrees and globally renowned German-language programmes, the proportion of international students has remained at peak levels for years. The same applies to the consistently high number of Bamberg students who pursue studies abroad, half of them through Erasmus programmes.
The university's vibrant international culture enables all students and staff to establish global networks from home and to broaden their intercultural experience. The International Week, which is open to both university members and the broader public, features a variety of thematic focuses, extensive offerings from the International Office, Welcome Center and Language Centre, and also frequent international lectures, readings and discussion forums.
The University of Bamberg’s mission statement includes an explicit commitment to embracing diversity. Internationality fosters diversity on numerous levels of human variability. Likewise, this commitment to diversity promotes internationality, because it is crucial for international students and researchers to see that all are truly welcome at the university and that those affected by marginalisation receive special support. The University of Bamberg provides advisory services for students and staff experiencing conflict and offers comprehensive resources for refugee students and researchers. In accordance with its holistic approach to sustainability, it is also committed to sustainable and socially just international action. And in terms of their value for global sustainable development, it regards research and teaching as intrinsic components of its educational mandate.
This international strategy builds on the intensive internationalisation measures that have been significantly expanded and interlinked since the successful "Internationalisation of Universities" HRK audit (2015) and the "Internationalisation Development Perspective" (2016). Since the creation of the new office of the Vice President for Diversity and International Affairs in 2020, internationality has also been firmly enshrined at the highest level of governance, emphasising the advancement of this field as a crucial, long-term objective. The international strategy aims to strengthen broad international involvement across the entire university, to further strategically align the numerous existing initiatives, and to institutionally enshrine what has been achieved thus far in such a way that it serves the University of Bamberg's ongoing development as a globally connected university of the future.
I. Internationality in Research
Scholarship and research are conducted within an international framework: the most novel ideas originate all over the world and are circulated internationally; multilingual teams cooperate on transnational solutions to problems; researchers plan their careers globally; and the quality of scholarly work is measured against international standards. Researchers at the University of Bamberg come from all over the world, are globally involved, and play an internationally visible role in finding solutions to critical societal challenges and historical-cultural issues. In line with its conceptual identity as an international research institution, and in the interest of ensuring the highest academic standards, the university strategically promotes global research partnerships and the mobility of its employees at both the individual and institutional level. It therefore deems it essential to provide doctoral candidates and postdoctoral researchers with early-stage support in pursuing experience in international projects, publishing internationally and shaping global developments.
Aims and Measures
A1 Academic cooperation with excellent universities and research institutions around the world shall be intensified.
M The university will systematically develop existing individual and institutional collaborations and identify strategic partnerships that are beneficial to the University of Bamberg as a whole. Strategic partnerships are consistent with the research strategy and ideally also bear upon teaching, student mobility and administrative processes; they can expand or complement both partner institutions' existing strengths.
M The university will expand dialogue with the faculties concerning priority regions with which it has maintained particularly intensive and long-standing joint research endeavours, teaching partnerships and exchange relationships; research initiatives will also be aligned according to this criterion. Individual collaborative endeavours will not be restricted due to strategic partnerships and priority regions; rather, these can contribute to both existing and new focus areas.
A2 The number of excellent international professors and professors recruited from abroad shall be raised, both in the context of increasingly global academic careers and in the interests of worldwide networking and the continuous review of our own academic standards.
M Where possible and appropriate, professorial vacancies will also be advertised internationally and promoted via suitable portals.
A3 The number of international visiting scholars shall be further increased to promote dynamic academic exchange in all faculties.
M The university will continue to invite tenders for an annual Johann-von-Spix Visiting Professorship and several international Diversity Guest Professorships.
M The university will introduce short-term funding for potential Alexander von Humboldt fellows that will enable both international researchers and their Bamberg colleagues to prepare applications for Alexander von Humboldt fellowships.
A4 In order to meet the highest quality standards and further increase the University of Bamberg's transnational visibility, priority shall be placed on recruiting professors who have not only a national but also an international reputation and who have published their work internationally.
M International reputation is enshrined in the appointment statutes and is taken into consideration by appointment committees.
A5 The number of international research proposals – such as proposals within the framework of EU programmes, and for CRCs with international relevance and international graduate programmes – shall be increased in order to reinforce the University of Bamberg's reputation as an excellent research institution.
M The international scope of applications will also be taken into consideration in the context of internal research funding (FNK) and where performance bonuses have been awarded.
A6 The promotion of international networking among early career researchers shall be expanded.
M The success rate of Bamberg doctoral candidates and postdoctoral researchers applying for international scholarships is to be increased by, among other things, actively encouraging these scholars to submit applications and to utilise the wide range of advisory services available.
M Based on the applications received, internal research funding (FNK) will be allocated preferentially for international conferences and research trips.
M The proportion of explicitly international and/or English-language workshops offered in the TRAc Graduate Centre's qualification programme will be maintained at the current level of 30% and, where possible and appropriate, will be increased.
A7 In the interest of attracting outstanding research talent, regardless of origin, and of promoting international networking at all career levels, the proportion of distinguished international doctoral candidates and postdoctoral researchers shall be further increased.
M The university will systematically increase the proportion of doctoral and postdoctoral positions advertised internationally and promoted via suitable portals.
M The university will introduce trial scholarships for potential international doctoral candidates as a means of enabling international graduates to gain first-hand insight into the structure of doctoral studies in Bamberg.
M In order to gain a better understanding of the general conditions and success factors of international doctoral studies as well as the mobility of Bamberg's early career researchers, the university is implementing systematic data collection and monitoring in these areas.
II. Internationality in Teaching and Learning
In line with the international nature of research, and consistent with globalised working environments and transnational lifestyles, studying and teaching are inherently international in character. Across all disciplines, subject matter is also internationally oriented, teaching is conducted in person and virtually in exchange with international instructors and students, and semesters abroad and instructor mobility, e.g. within the Erasmus+ programme, broaden global perspectives. At the University of Bamberg, myriad student exchange programmes, a growing number of international lecturers and (visiting) professors, a widely embraced welcome culture, and international activities across the entire university all provide abundant opportunities for studying internationally. Students from every discipline can engage with topics at the highest international level, gain intercultural experience and become globally involved.
Aims and Measures
A8 The high proportion of international students shall be further expanded, both with regard to a transnational understanding of education, and in terms of fostering an everyday university culture characterised by internationality.
M The university is establishing a central master's degree support office at the International Office/Welcome Center. This will consolidate and further improve guidance provided to the approximately 1,000 currently enrolled international master's students on issues like finding accommodation and health insurance, and it will also ease their orientation and integration.
M All degree programmes, regardless of the primary language of instruction, will be presented (at least in brief) both online and in print media in English – and in other relevant languages where possible – in order to ensure that the extensive course offering is visible to the broadest possible international audience. Degree programme information should always be provided with the needs of prospective international students in mind.
M The subject groups and institutes are to strategically expand their range of welcome and information videos for international students.
A9 The proportion of international students successfully completing degrees shall be increased.
M Where possible, internationally attractive degree programmes will expand their range – or increase their use – of optional online aptitude tests or subject-specific self-assessment resources for use by prospective international students when deciding on courses of study. To do this, experience gained with recently developed offerings in German Studies master's programmes and the International Software Systems Science M.Sc. programme will be utilised.
M In addition to centralised services, the integration of international students will also be improved in academic units and institutes, e.g. by (re)establishing regular international get-togethers, subject-specific buddy programmes, international office hours, etc.
A10 The high proportion of University of Bamberg students pursuing studies or internships abroad shall be maintained at no lower than the current levels and increased to the extent possible in order to enable students to gain richer intercultural experiences and to promote transnational academic dialogue.
M The potential for mobility windows and module groups that incorporate international experience should always be taken into account when establishing new degree programmes and accrediting existing ones.
M The faculties are discussing the establishment of a student certificate that, in addition to attendance of internationally focused seminars, international conferences, language courses, etc., gives special consideration to studies or internships abroad.
M The extensive study abroad opportunities at the University of Bamberg will feature more prominently in degree programme marketing efforts in order to explicitly target internationally oriented students.
A11 The number of existing international and English-language degree programmes, double and joint degrees, as well as internationally highly attractive German-language degree programmes, shall be strategically expanded.
M Based on its unique profile and range of subjects, the university is developing guidelines for the introduction of international courses, modules and degree programmes, and for adapting existing programmes to more internationally oriented formats.
A12 In light of an increasingly transnational educational landscape, course and programme offerings shall remain oriented towards international perspectives.
M The offering of more than 200 English-language courses each semester and the overall proportion of foreign-language courses are being strategically expanded based on the importance of foreign language skills and the significance of teaching and learning in intercultural contexts.
M Courses will increase the systematic exploitation of opportunities for international topics, international guest lectures and intercultural dialogue, both virtually and in person.
III. Internationality in Administration
The university's central institutions and administration serve as important points of contact for international students, instructors and researchers, and for all university members interested in transnational projects and initiatives. With their sense of global responsibility and international self-image, the university's academic support staff contribute significantly to the lived spirit of internationalism and open-mindedness. In view of the increasing volume and intensity of international activities, the university provides its employees with sustained support in broadening their international and intercultural perspectives and skills, and promotes a consistently transnational perception of modern universities.
Aims and Measures
A13 The proportion of international employees and employees with significant international experience in the field of academic support shall be increased in order to contribute to the university's broader international conceptual identity.
M The consideration of foreign language skills and intercultural competency in the recruitment and hiring of academic support staff is encouraged.
A14 Employees' proficiency in English and other foreign languages, as well as their intercultural competencies, should be continually expanded in order to further promote the active cultivation of an international university community on all levels.
M Employees have regular opportunities to attend language courses at the Language Centre or abroad (e.g. through Erasmus+ or exchanges with partner institutions) as well as intercultural training courses.
M Training courses in the use of translation software will be offered, particularly as regards the growing demands of managing English-language websites.
IV. International University Culture
In the broadest sense, universities are places of international and intercultural exchange, and places for global involvement. The University of Bamberg's international culture is an integral component of its academic and administrative life and is reflected in university member's daily interactions. Numerous international events highlight the university's significance as a place of intercultural exchange with a broader influence on the city and region. The university promotes multilingualism as part of its educational mandate and global responsibility and is expressly committed to diversity and anti-discrimination on all levels.
Aims and Measures
A15 Strategic dialogue on internationalisation as a crucial intersectional topic shall be intensified across the entire university in order to better incorporate the considerable interest in international issues into university development endeavours.
M Regular meetings between the Vice President for Diversity and International Affairs and the faculties’ International Affairs Officers will be institutionalised in order to supplement the "International Affairs Expertise Forum" (Expertiseforum Internationales) – formerly known as the "International Affairs Round Table" (Runder Tisch Internationales).
M Faculty International Affairs Officers regularly attend Faculty Committee meetings to provide information and advice on aims and measures pertaining to international research, teaching, administration and university culture, and to communicate intra-faculty developments to university governance.
M Faculty International Affairs Officers and the director of the International Office are regularly invited to attend University Executive Board meetings to discuss significant developments pertaining to international affairs.
M The faculties will each adopt their own development objectives which contain specific internationalisation aims and measures, and which are closely linked to the university's overall development perspective and this International Strategy.
A16 The integration of students, researchers, employees and guests who come to the University of Bamberg from around the world shall be sustainably improved.
M The broad range of international offerings provided by the Welcome Center and the TRAc Graduate Centre will be expanded to include a joint, annual onboarding event for international researchers.
M International students, researchers and employees are proactively encouraged to become involved in administrative committees and working groups; where appropriate and necessary, communication takes place using a flexible, bilingual approach.
A17 Pursuant to its conceptual identity as an open-minded, cosmopolitan institution, the university shall further strengthen its stance against racism and discrimination.
M Aspects of anti-racism and anti-discrimination will be incorporated more significantly into the thematic focus of university-wide events.
M The university will strengthen its involvement in the City of Bamberg's International Weeks Against Racism with an increased contribution of lectures and other thematically relevant events.
M The university regularly provides all employees with the opportunity to attend training courses focused on foreign languages and intercultural and anti-racist topics.
A18 International topics and developments are an essential component of the University of Bamberg's internal and external communication.
M An international newsletter provides regular reports on current international developments throughout the university.
M Information concerning international developments in teaching, research and university life is a key focus of central communications, ranging from selected print publications to social media campaigns and the university website.
A19 Bilingual and multilingual communication shall be further expanded.
M Websites for all central units and departments, as well as for all faculties and academic institutes, are provided in two languages (at the least for homepages and other upper-level information).
M The prioritisation of translating relevant websites and documents into English will continue until the highest possible degree of bilingualism is achieved.
M Newsletters and memoranda from the President and the Head of Administration, Human Resources and Finance that concern the entire university are issued in two languages: German and English.
M A university language policy that not only strengthens English as a lingua franca but also further promotes multilingualism will be adopted.
A20 The university shall more consistently align its commitment to the internationalisation of research, teaching and campus life with the principles of sustainable development.
M All university forums and contact points dealing with internationality or sustainability will also take into account the intersection of these two areas, including the correlation between the climate crisis and global mobility.