This page in Swedish 23 June 2026

International exchange to discuss the future of higher education

A group of nearly fifty people standing on a staircase in front of a house with large glass panels.

Participants on the course International Perspectives in Higher Education outside the School of Music, Theatre and Art at Örebro University. Photo: Maja Eriksson

Nearly 50 members of staff from eleven higher education institutions across Europe gathered at Örebro University for a week to complete the course International Perspectives in Higher Education.
– It has been an intensive, enjoyable, and highly rewarding week. We have had the opportunity to learn from good practice and exchange experiences with colleagues from other countries, says Stefan Karlsson.

Stefan Karlsson is an academic developer at the Centre for Academic Development at Örebro University. Together with colleagues from Bielefeld University, the University of Salerno, the University of Tours, and the University of Ostrava, he planned and delivered the course International Perspectives in Higher Education during the spring semester.

The course is part of Örebro University’s collaboration within NEOLAiA. It is a Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) that combines online learning with an in-person study period at a European university. During the spring semester, participants met online on five occasions before coming together for a final week at Örebro University.

– Concluding the course with an in-person meeting adds real value, says Stefan Karlsson.

A man with a gray-green shirt and glasses. In the background, there is a group of people.

Stefan Karlsson, academic developer at the Centre for Academic Development at Örebro University, is the course project leader and facilitator.

A valuable exchange of experience

Two women and three men are sitting at a long table. There are computers on the table.

Mathilde Duflos (University of Tours), Margit Offermann (Bielefled University), Hector Lara (The Hague University of Applied Sciences), Ondřej Volný (University of Ostrava) and Marios Constantinou (University of Nicosia).

During the course, participants worked in groups on themes including active learning and digitalisation, inclusive teaching in higher education, AI in higher education, and education for sustainable development.

Mathilde Duflos of the University of Tours and Hector Lara of The Hague University of Applied Sciences particularly valued the opportunity to exchange ideas with colleagues and gain inspiration from practices that they could take back to their home institutions.

– There is always so much to do in everyday working life. Here, I have had time to think and reflect, says Mathilde Duflos.

Two women are sitting at a table with their own laptops.

Laura Tufano (University of Salerno) and Hanan El Khadir (University of Tours) were two of the course facilitators.

Laura Tufano and Hanan El Khadir were among the course facilitators. Both are involved in NEOLAiA at their respective institutions and see internationalisation as an important priority for universities.

– It has been a successful BIP, with engaged participants and a strong starting point for further collaboration, says Hanan El Khadir.

A woman in a light blue sweater. She has a white mug in her hand.

Sarah Gamble (Örebro University).

Sarah Gamble was one of the participants from Örebro University. She appreciated the mix of institutions and national contexts represented in the group, and found the sessions on AI in higher education and education for sustainable development especially interesting.

– It has been valuable to meet and discuss ideas and perspectives in groups of a manageable size, says Sarah Gamble.

Different groups of participants in the course are drawing on whiteboards. A man is watching.

On the final day of the course, participants illustrated their week at Örebro University on whiteboards in Lecture Hall P2.

Örebro University collaborates with nine European higher education institutions through NEOLAiA, an alliance of young universities with strong rankings and close regional connections. In addition to Örebro University, the alliance includes: