International Staff Days
International Staff Days @ Odisee - University of Applied Sciences
From Tuesday, December 3rd until Thursday December, 5th 2024
By attending the International Staff Days, you become part of the Odisee community, alongside other international partners. During these days, expect lively discussions, teaching opportunities, great networking chances, interesting talks, cultural experiences, social events, and knowledge sharing through job shadowing.
Registrations for international officers and coordinators of internationalization are now open. Please use the form below to indicate your interest in specific workshops and sessions. We kindly ask for your contribution by sharing your expertise, ideas or good practices.
The programme
Below, you will find an overview of the programme for our International Staff Days, along with detailed descriptions of the sessions on December 4th and 5th.
Don’t forget to register via the link below!
Tuesday December 3rd
Programme Highlights for all participants of the International Staff Days
Programme starts at 10h00 on our campus in Brussels
- Welcome
Kick off of our International Staff Days with a warm welcome from Ann Verreth, General Director of Odisee University of Applied Sciences. - Keynote on Erasmus+ and Ukraine by Iryna Shteimiller A moving, yet hopeful testimonial on the war in Ukraine and the impact it has on internationalization in HEI
- Keynote: The Power of Collaboration by Philippe Eiselein
The keynote will discuss the critical role of collaboration, knowledge sharing, and building lasting connections in higher education. - Networking lunch
- Global Minds: Partnership from North to South Explore the impactful partnership initiatives bridging the North and South
- Community Service Learning at Odisee by Aaron Soens
Get to know Odisee's approach to Community Service Learning - Guided Brussels' tour + evening at Brussels’ Winter Market
We finish the day with a tour of Brussels’ historical and cultural highlights and a visit to the Winter Market.
The bios of our keynote speakers can be found at the bottom of this page.
Programme is subject to change.
Wednesday December 4th
Workshops for International Officers, Coordinators of Internationalization, Research Assistants and Administrators interested in Research and Internationalization:
Partners planning on teaching will receive a tailor-made programme from their Odisee contact person.
Join us for a series of engaging workshops designed to inspire, inform, and learn from one another. Registration is required.
Programme:
10h00 - 12h00 - Keynote by Bleri Lleshi on Intercultural Competencies
13h30 - 15h00
- Promoting Sustainable Travel (find a detailed description below)
- Starting and Sharing International Research Projects (find a detailed description below)
15h00 - 16h30 - Sharing Practices on the Organization of Successful International Student Exchange Programmes (find a detailed description below)
Thursday December 5th
Workshops for International Officers, Coordinators of Internationalization, Research Assistants and Administrators interested in Research and Internationalization:
Partners planning on teaching will receive a tailor-made programme from their Odisee contact person.
Join us for a series of engaging workshops designed to inspire, inform, and learn from one another. Registration is required.
Programme:
9h30 - 11h00 - Networking and Professional Development (find a detailed description below)
11h15 - 12h45
- Maximizing the Impact of Erasmus+ Staff Mobility: Moving Beyond Superficial Academic Tourism (find a detailed description below)
- How to Build a Community with Engaged Students (find a detailed description below)
14h00 - 15h30 - Administrative Challenges and Support (find a detailed description below)
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In this workshop we explore the opportunities of starting an international research project.
Experienced researchers will share their personal journeys, discuss their motivations, challenges and opportunities they encountered, and will share the key steps involved in initiating and completing an international research project.
During a round table discussion, participants are invited to share their experiences, tackling questions such as:
- What motivates you to engage in international research, or what might hold you back?
- How do you build strong partnerships and grow an international network?
- How does your institution support international research initiatives?
- What are the challenges and benefits of working with colleagues from diverse cultural backgrounds?
Join us to gain practical insights and share your own experiences as we dive into the complexities and rewards of international research.
When? Wednesday December 4th from 13h30 till 15h00 from our Brussels' campus.
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The European Commission has recently introduced new rules on sustainable travel, making this session the perfect opportunity to delve deeper into these changes.
Although the new guidelines for green travel were anticipated, they present us with an opportunity to integrate sustainable travel into our policy and fully support it as an institution. We are committed to ensuring that all students and staff adopt sustainable travel practices within a 500 km radius. By embedding this initiative into our policy, we focus on behavioral change and demonstrate our dedication to sustainability.
The varying policies of higher education institutions (HEIs) and the differing infrastructure across countries add layers of complexity to this issue.
What can you expect?
- Insights from Odisee: Learn how Odisee is addressing these challenges and the steps we are taking to promote sustainable travel.
- Exchange of ideas: Share your experiences and learn from other HEIs on how they are navigating these new rules.
- Practical tips: Obtain concrete tools and strategies to develop a widely supported green travel policy within your institution.
Are you interested in learning new strategies and exchanging ideas about sustainable travel? If so, this workshop is perfect for you!
When? December 4th from 14h00 till 15h30 on our Brussels' campus.
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Join us for an engaging workshop where we explore various formats of international exchange programmes at Odisee and its visiting institutions. Discover international classrooms, short blended mobilities, blended intensive programmes (BIP, SIP/NIP), COILs, summer schools and full semester exchange programmes. This session provides a platform to share and learn from each other’s experiences, with a focus on inclusivity and student engagement.
Our goal is not only to present ‘best practices’ but also to discuss the challenges and adversities that all higher education institutions encounter while designing and implementing these programmes.
What to Expect:
A brief introduction to some of Odisee’s international exchange programmes aimed at inclusive participation for all students.
Preparation:
We ask participants to bring information about one exciting exchange programme or project in the making (international classroom, short blended mobility, blended intensive programme, COIL, summer school, exchange semester) to share during our workshop.
Join us to exchange ideas, learn from each other, and enhance our international programmes together!
When? December 4th from 15h30 till 17h00 on our Brussels' campus.
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At this networking event, you will have the opportunity to connect with like-minded professionals interested in collaborating on new projects.
The event will feature two round table discussions. The first round will focus on sharing best practices around specific topics (inclusion, sustainability).
In the second round, you will select a table based on the faculty or department you represent and the topic (BIP, COIL, MOOC, SPOCS, mobility) for which you wish to develop a project.
At every table, there will be somebody of Odisee University if Applied Sciences represented.
What can you expect?
- Establishment of new partnerships
- Innovative ideas for collaboration
Preparation: Share good practices.
When? December 5th from 9h30 till 11h00 on our Brussels' campus.
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We are all convinced of the immense value that international staff exchanges bring. However, in practice, we sometimes notice that not all potential is fully used. Learning experiences are not always leveraged, and knowledge is not consistently shared.
This workshop aims to address these gaps and ensure that staff mobility is not just an opportunity for travel, but a meaningful and impactful professional development experience.
The aim of this workshop is to engage with colleagues in a meaningful discussion about the tools and strategies that can enhance the value of staff mobility. We will explore actions that both participants and organizations can take to maximize the benefits of Erasmus+ staff mobility.
In this interactive session, we will discuss practical tools that help increase the impact of staff mobility. We will collaboratively explore what both participants and organizations can do to enhance the experience and outcomes of staff mobility. By sharing best practices and learning from each other’s successes and failures, we aim to inspire each other. Additionally, we will introduce theoretical frameworks that can help in setting up a structured policy for staff mobility.Preparation:
Sharing good practices.
When? December 5th from 11h15 till 12h45 on our Brussels' campus.
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In this workshop, we will explore different strategies for building student and alumni communities. We will discuss the benefits of student communities, examine current practices, and debate challenges such as loneliness among (incoming) students and how to engage with students (and keep them interested).
Through discussions and brainstorming, we will develop actionable ideas focusing on alumni involvement and enhancing the (incoming) student experience.
Preparation:
Think of current and good practices, and be ready to share your insights on community-building within your own HEI or from other successful examples involving alumni or incoming students. You may visualize your insights with a short presentation/photos/video…
When? December 5th from 11h15 till 12h45 from our Brussels' campus.
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During this workshop, we will address key administrative challenges and how both the department of Internationalisation and Research provide support in these areas.
Following the presentations, we will engage in a roundtable discussion. In preparation of the discussion, we encourage participants to reflect on the following questions, as they will form the base of our conversation:
- How are internationalisation efforts structured in your organisation?
- Is there a strong link between the internationalisation and the research department?
- Which tools and strategies do you use for project management and how centralized are these processes?
In addition to these topics, we invite you to bring your own challenges on project support to the table, allowing us to learn from one another and work towards improvement.
When? December 5th from 14h00 till 15h30 on our campus in Brussels.
Register here - International Staff Days Odisee
Meet the International Relations Office or Research department
Iryna Shteimiller
More about our keynote speaker Iryna Shteimiller:
Iryna Shteimiller is a distinguished expert in the field of international relations and higher education with a strong focus on fostering academic collaboration and partnership. She earned her PhD in Pedagogical Sciences from V.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University in 2015, following her Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees in Mathematics. Her career spans over a decade of leadership in international academic affairs across several prestigious Ukrainian institutions.
Currently, Iryna serves as the Deputy Director of International Relations at International European University in Kyiv and holds the position of Head of the International Relations Office at V.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University. Additionally, Iryna is an Associate Professor of the Department of International Relations at Karazin University and the National Contact Point for Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions in Horizon Europe, where she leads initiatives to connect Ukrainian researchers with European funding opportunities.
Throughout her career, Iryna has played a key role in promoting international partnerships, serving as Director of the Center for International Academic Partnership and leading numerous strategic projects aimed at strengthening academic exchange and cooperation. Her extensive experience also includes leading international offices at the National Aerospace University and Karazin University, where she developed and managed large-scale academic mobility programmes and research collaborations.
Renowned for her leadership, adaptability, and strategic vision, Iryna is a respected figure in both national and international academic communities, continually contributing to the advancement of Ukraine's global academic presence.
Philippe Eiselein
More about our keynote speaker Philippe Eiselein:
Philippe Eiselein is an expert with a mission in the field of sustainability. He obtained his Ph.D. in Business Engineering from the VUB in 2021, focusing on managing social enterprises (scaling social impact and balancing conflicting objectives).
He works full-time as a senior researcher at the Center for Sustainable Entrepreneurship (CenSE) within Odisee, and also part-time as a professor of social entrepreneurship and CSR at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel.
Over the past decade, he has presented his research at numerous international and national conferences in various countries and continents. He is particularly known for his work on sustainability projects, with a focus on cross-sector collaboration and social entrepreneurship business models, as well as competency skills.
He has been teaching Project Management, Corporate Social Responsibility, and Research Methods for nearly a decade. He is recognized as a keynote speaker at various international forums. Finally, he played a central role in coordinating Belgium Impact, a national platform initiated by His Majesty the King of Belgium. This platform has played a significant role as a catalyst in the social entrepreneurship ecosystem, supporting over 500 social entrepreneurial stakeholders and demonstrating great impact and inspiration.
Aaron Soens
More about our keynote speaker Aaron Soens and Service Learning:
Aaron Soens is head of educational development and quality assurance at Odisee University of Applied Sciences. He is MA in Philosophy, expert in Service Learning Pedagogy and Ethics teacher in BA of Occupational Therapy.
Service Learning is a pedagogical approach we use to cocreate around societal challenges. We have the ambition to let every Odisee-student experience a 'true' and authentic cocreation experience at least once by the end of their programme. This aim is part of our educational vision with "active learning in authentic and cocreative contexts" as one of the four central pillars. In this talk we will give you more insights in how the definition of cocreation and Service Learning intertwine and how we integrate this pedagogy in a learning pathway in our curricula. We will end the presentation with different good practices.
Bleri Lleshi
More about our speaker Bleri Lleshi and his keynote on intercultural competencies:
Bleri Lleshi is philosopher and author of various books in Dutch and French. Currently he is teaching at UCLL in Leuven courses such as Philosophy, Intercultural Communication & Cross-Cultural Management. Lleshi has worked as a social worker for about 15 years in Brussels. He has been training hundreds of organisations on diversity issues.
The keynote
Cultural diversity has been increasing across Europe over the past few decades, and this trend is expected to continue in the future. The key question is how European countries will manage this growing diversity. The best approach is to transition from diversity to inclusion. This shift will not only improve the lives of people with migrant backgrounds but also benefit the receiving societies by incorporating migrants’ contributions.
One effective way to foster inclusion is by focusing on cultural competence. The more culturally competent we are, the better we can handle cultural diversity and move closer to true inclusion. Philosopher and lecturer Bleri Lleshi will delve deeper into the theoretical aspects of this topic and discuss concrete cases from Brussels.
The keynote will take place on Wednesday December 4th from 10h00 to 12h00.
