22^nd World Nursing Education Conference

Biography

Biography: Monne Wihlborg

Abstract

Internationalization of higher education in general is an important European goal aiming at supporting both knowledge development and high-quality education for the professionals of tomorrow. However, the 5^th Global Survey of the International Association of Universities suggest that some HEI regard internationalization as important, increasing activities to support development across research, teaching and civic engagement endeavors and other institutions don’t. Internationalization has a number of potential benefits, such as pooling resources across national borders to allow the development of specialized joint programs in emerging areas. Other potential benefits arise from a mutually enriching process of widening perspectives that can take place when higher education programs draw on multiple knowledge traditions. Communication technology opens opportunities for innovative learning approaches cross nations and cultures. This theoretical paper draws on a case in practice of collaborative and transformative learning in line with ‘internationalization at home’ with the broader learning objective of ‘becoming aware and knowledgeable’. The paper draws on a case example that involved two universities in Sweden and the USA. Elaborating on a collaborative process showing learning community through the construction of a virtual module and a learning activity. The paper discusses students’ and teachers’ experiences and theoretical issues and further development of strategies that opens up for dialogues. Virtual international exchanges open innovative communication and learning contexts across nations and cultures. Internationalizing higher education is so much more than students’ and teachers’ mobility. Internationalization at home for all on home grounds’ should be paid more attention.