Moving Target Digitalisation 2022: Increasing the Impact of Internationalisation in Higher Education

November 30th – December 2nd 2022 in Berlin and virtually

Digitalisation is profoundly altering higher education: collaboration across borders and new forms of mobility and exchange offer diverse opportunities in a globally networked world. Higher education institutions have experienced a digitalisation surge in the past two years, which has led to changes in teaching, research, and university administration. Digital educational technologies offer the possibility of both advancing internationalisation and opening diverse forms of participation and mobility.

The DAAD actively promotes digital internationalisation, both through its funding activities and the realisation of research and development projects, as well as through networking activities and community building: the spectrum of topics ranges from digital preparatory programmes to digital credentials. At the same time, questions remain about the limits of these technologies, for example with regard to open educational practice, digital exclusion or the self-understanding of universities. How can the effects of internationalisation through digitalisation, new digital tools and formats be captured in the future? What challenges emerge in the context of cross-border collaborations, new mobility patterns and flexible learning paths?

The biannual conference "Moving Target Digitalisation" invites participants to address these central questions. With its focus on recent developments in the internationalisation of Higher Education, the conference will present project outcomes and examine related initiatives at home and abroad. In addition, the conference aims to provide space for policy dialogue to discuss framework conditions for European and international cooperation opportunities. Participants of #movingtarget2022 will discuss the effects of digitalisation on the internationalisation of higher education and on academic exchange in the follwoing four subject areas.

Tracks

- organised by DiBiHo

Digital Credentials become most apparent at transition points during the learner’s journey, when a diploma is obtained and used to apply for jobs, subsequent degrees or scholarships. However, (micro-)credentials are an integral part of learner agency throughout academic life, as they allow for flexible learning paths, documentation of individual achievements and provide the infrastructure for international exchange and quality assurance.

Developments in technology and policy affect mobility patterns and academic networks; these will be informing our discussion in this conference track.

Guiding questions for the theme track include:
- What are the implications of digital credentials for the digitalisation of Higher Education and Administration?
- Which technical requirements and political-organisational frameworks affect the feasibility, transparency and system openness?
- Is Self-Sovereign Identity a crucial element of digital diplomas?
- Which factors have hindered the development of an international standard to date?
- How can trust in digital credentials be established and does openness of system design affect acceptance by future users?
Themes include, but are not limited to: Governance, identity management, interoperability, micro-credentials, regulatory and legal frameworks, lifelong learning, portability, prototypical developments, security & data protection, self-sovereign identity, trust anchoring, qualification frameworks, quality assurance.
- organised by BIRD and Digital Campus

Since the pandemic started, quantity and quality of digital education services has increased immensely - being geared towards either study preparation, support or resources. Meanwhile it seems impossible to imagine education today and in the future without considering the role of digitalisation.

In this conference track, opportunities and limitations of deepening cooperation between individual digital services and their possible interconnection will be discussed. Along with other topics, the focus will be on national and transnational perspectives, lifelong learning as well as the issue of participation for all.

Guiding questions for the theme track include:
- How can "teaching and learning" be linked via digital formats, tools and forms of cooperation along the student journey?
- How can truly innovative teaching/learning scenarios be designed and implemented sustainably?
- What role do education platforms play for our digital future?
Themes include, but are not limited to: Interlinking education, interoperability, OER, national education platforms, international education, lifelong learning, international cooperation, innovation, educational accessibility.
- organised by DAADs Digital Programmes' Community Team (IMKD, IP Digital, IVAC)

International collaboration is the key to jointly solve global challenges. Digitalisation opens a wide range of collaboration opportunities that extend far beyond the geographical, political and social boundaries of traditional teaching and learning scenarios.

One educational framework that enables students and educators to collaboratively work together in international and intercultural teams is Virtual Exchange (VE). VE scenarios can enhance students and educators intercultural, digital, and collaborative skills, as well as their problem-solving competences for research and education. Skills and competences, which are an essential asset for young experts to solve contemporary global challenges. However, educators and VE coordinators are facing numerous challenges in their journey to develop, implement and evaluate VEs.

Guiding questions for the theme track include:
- What are the challenges regarding the development, implementation, and evaluation of VEs?
- What competencies can be acquired through VE and how can their development be measured?
- How can we measure the outcomes and impacts of VEs?
- Can VE enrich HEIs internationalisation and digitalisation strategies?
Themes include but are not limited to: developing and fostering international partnerships, co-creation, co-teaching, (student) collaboration, student engagement, IT-tools and data security, skills development and evaluation, e-assessment, (ecological) sustainability, inclusion, and equal participation.
- organised by OpenU

In Europe, working together across borders is key in shaping the future of internationalisation by digital means. Creating strong networks, exchanging good practices, and facilitating dialogue between policy and practice are core missions on the way to seamless mobilities and exchange in the European Education Area.

In 2022, the DAAD took on the role of leading a consortium of 11 strong partners to support the European Commission’s Digital Education Hub. The aim is to build a community that engages in knowledge-building, co-creation of solutions and practices across all sectors of education.

Guiding questions for the theme track include:
- What opportunities do the Digital Education Action Plan and the Digital Education Hub of the European Commission offer?
- What effects does the "European Strategy for Universities" have on exchange and cooperation between universities and within university alliances?
- How can cross-national and cross-sectoral cooperation in Europe drive the expansion of digital (higher) education - and thus also strengthen the internationalisation of education?
- Which digital infrastructure is suitable to enable seamless mobility and to support lifelong learning in Europe and beyond?
Themes include, but are not limited to: Community of practice, digital education action plan, digital education hub, digital transformation, knowledge-sharing and mapping, accelerating innovation, agility, interoperability, European cooperation in education.

Moving Target Digitalisation 2022 in pictures

More pictures of the event can be found at our media database.

The presentations for the individual conference papers can be found in the conference programme or in our media database.