International Staff Week

Celebrating global partnerships

In an era of global interconnectivity, partnerships have become key drivers of transformative change in higher education. They fuel collaborative research, inspire innovative education, and enrich experiences for students and staff across borders. However, building partnerships that withstand time and adapt to new global challenges requires thoughtful planning, commitment to sustainability, and a shared vision for the future.

This year’s International Staff Week empowers participants with strategies to establish, grow, and sustain meaningful international collaborations. With contributions from leading experts, hands-on workshops, and global case studies, participants will delve into best practices for aligning partnership goals with broader academic and institutional objectives. The week will offer practical insights on nurturing partnerships that emphasize institutional impact and sustainable growth.

Tailored for International Officers, faculty, and professional staff involved in partnership development, this event provides a unique opportunity to exchange ideas, adopt best practices, and lay the foundation for a global network dedicated to a sustainable future.

What to expect

The 2025 International Staff Week, co-hosted by the University of Amsterdam and the University of Edinburgh, offers a dynamic structure that combines engaging sessions with meaningful interactions. The program begins with two days at the University of Amsterdam, followed by a travel day on Wednesday, and culminates with two immersive days at the University of Edinburgh.

In this interactive environment, participants will:

Attend workshops and seminars on topics such as partnership development, authentic leadership, the art of storytelling, and the role of international offices in supporting sustainable student mobility programmes.
Engage in panel discussions with faculty and staff from diverse array of renowned institutions, who will share their insights on collaboration and the evolving landscape of student mobility.
Participate in networking events and cultural activities, facilitating connections with colleagues from around the world.

To view the structure of the International Staff Week 2025, please download the preliminary programme:

Preliminary programme (PDF download)

Some delegate comments on previous International Staff Weeks.

"I was very impressed by the International Staff Week. I think it was a great mix of staff who were less experienced & more experienced and I would encourage that approach continue so that the program has learning for all attendees."

"I thought the World Cafe was particularly great as it was a chance to talk with colleagues about issues and see what other universities were doing to resolve them. It was a great way to get fresh, new ideas to solve ever-standing problems."

"It was such a great week, meeting you all and meeting colleagues from around the world. The topics were very interesting and hits right into our daily work in the international offices. It was very insightful and inspiring to discuss these topics."

"I liked the whole week and I liked how internationalisation is seen as a process which in many places is underway and not completed. At the same time universities like Amsterdam and Edinburgh that have many international students also have lots of experience with internationalisation, and it is great they want to share this knowledge with others."

Costs

Participation in the 2025 International Staff Week is £350, which includes the programme, lunches (except Wednesday), and two evening dinners. Travel and hotel expenses are not included. We are pleased to offer a tuition waiver to participants from U21 partner institutions.

Registration and deadline

The staff training week is open to early, mid and late career professionals from partner and prospective partner universities who work in international education and student mobility with a particular focus on partnership development.
Due to limited capacity, only those in relevant roles can be accommodated.
Each university may send a maximum of 2 participants to ensure a diverse group.
Full attendance for the entire programme is required.
If applications exceed available spaces, the University of Amsterdam and the University of Edinburgh will undertake a selection process to ensure participants align with the staff week theme.

Registration opens on 8 November and closes on 8 December 2024.

Confirmations will be sent by the second week of December 2024 to allow for visa processing time. To register, please complete the following registration form Here Please note that our offices will be closed from 21 December 2024 to 3 January 2025, during which we may not be able to respond to inquiries.

Questions?

Q&A session: Join us for an online information session on Monday, 25 November, at 2 pm.

A FAQ will be published, which covers most common questions, a few days after the meeting.

Still questions? Please contact us at:

isw@ed.ac.uk

Apply now