Certificate awarded by the German Rectors’ Conference (HRK)

Bielefeld continues to be an award-winning international university. On Monday (01.12.2014) it received the certificate from the German Rectors’ Conference (HRK) for participating successfully in the Re-Audit ‘Internationalization of Universities’. Professor Martina Kessel, Vice-Rector for International Affairs and Communication, accepted the award in Berlin.

Since 2009, the HRK has been awarding these certificates roughly once every year to support internationalization processes in higher education. Bielefeld University already participated in the Audit as a pilot university in 2009/2010 when it was first certified as an ‘International university’. Since then, the university has developed an internationalization strategy along with an implementation plan focusing on research and teaching, mobility and recruitment, as well as support measures and quality assurance. Bielefeld University took part again in the Re-Audit as one of five pilot universities. This involved international experts evaluating how the goals and measures for internationalization specified in the Re-Audit are being implemented. Important aspects are, for example, that study credits acquired abroad should be readily recognized, counselling services extended, or the admission of international students simplified.

The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) is funding the Audit in order to promote the internationalization of not only individual universities but also the entire structure of higher education in Germany. This year, a total of 29 universities received the certificate; 24 of them were commended for the Audit; and five of these, including Bielefeld University, received the award for the Re-Audit.
 
Further information is available online at:
http://www.hrk.de/audit/

Contact:
Prof. Dr. Martina Kessel, Bielefeld University
Vice-Rector for International Affairs and Communication
Tel: 0521 106-4071  
Email: prorektorat-intkom@uni-bielefeld.de