Mission Statement Internationalisation

Internationalisation is a contribution to the values that Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences (HSRW) actively upholds: democracy, openness to the world, acceptance, tolerance and mutual understanding between cultures. As a university, we seek to enable international exchanges for both students and staff, support processes to overcome global challenges like climate change, develop teaching, research and the knowledge exchange by collaborating with partner universities – particularly in the Global South – and engage in various forms of science diplomacy. Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences is committed to encouraging positive transformation at local, regional and national levels, and increasingly internationally as well. To achieve this, we proactively address the complex issues that arise from cooperative agreements and exchanges with partners in countries with a poor record of accomplishment on civil liberties and human rights. Moreover, we endeavour to maintain an open dialogue and advocate strongly for democracy and human rights, define clear criteria for pursuing or terminating such partnerships and draw onour experience to expand our expertise in science diplomacy and capacity building.

HSRW is an inclusive community with a large proportion of international members. Values such as democracy, internationality and fruitful exchanges across academic cultures, genders, political views, worldviews and religious convictions are lived, practised and embodied daily on both campuses and across the entire university, in both teaching and research. Fostering greater awareness and appreciation for diversity among students and teaching staff as well as taking an active approach to academic integration are both essential to our strategy. They also serve to uphold the democratic university culture to which we are committed.

We are sensitive to the individual needs and backgrounds of our students and take these into account in our teaching and research. We create opportunities for international gatherings and exchanges, both social and cultural, for example during the university-wide Days of Antidiscrimination. Events such as these, together with our many other (advisory) offers and services, help newcomers to rapidly integrate into our community.

More than 120 different countries are represented at Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences. Indeed, many members of our committees, governing bodies and student representatives have an international background. They work in academic and administrative settings and take every opportunity to do so bilingually, in both German and English. 

For us, an international profile is not an end in itself, but rather a unique opportunity to better prepare our students for the challenges of networked societies, an increasingly international scientific community and the global labour market. The latter is also particularly beneficial to companies in our region, as highly qualified international graduates with a global sense of responsibility can tap into emerging global trends with the power to transform societies and our understanding of sustainability and help our region to remain competitive in the future.