I. Strategy, objectives, priorities.

a) From the moment that XIOS Hogeschool Limburg (new name of the Hogeschool Limburg) has obtained the  EUC in 2002, internationalization has become an inseparable part of our education system. In all its departments and study  degrees  responsible lecturers, together with the international relations coordinators, are very busy to implement and improve internationalization in all its forms. I@H has XIOS’ special attention and mobility is still a very important issue.

Mobility is in most cases an announcement for other forms of cooperation with partner institutions and one can assume that teacher staff mobility is perhaps the best form of preparation for student mobility and the participation in networks. 

Flexible learning paths in our education system are the inevitable consequence. Mobility supports the realization of international competence profiles, it is focused on international benchmarking, cooperation with partner institutes (curriculum development), research (expertise enhancement) and networking.

By creating international modules, adapting and tutoring courses for foreign students and by presenting study programmes in English the accessibility to foreign students and teachers will become easier. XIOS will continue to improve student and teaching staff mobility with special attention for its quality. Together with variability (all study degrees must be involved), flexibility (all students and teachers must have the opportunity of participating), continuity (most contacts with international partners must lead to a better cooperation, if possible in all study fields, and an improvement of the whole education system) and off course diversity.

The AUHL (Associatie Universiteit Hogescholen Limburg) of which XIOS is a partner has decided to elaborate a common strategy in order to improve the quality of the (international) study programmes and the mobility of its students and teaching staff by gathering all their forces and  know how in this matter.

Joint activities are set up to provide a solid preparation to the outgoing students and teachers and to synchronise the reception and accompaniment of foreign incoming students and teachers by offering a common solution for housing, language courses and other problems and by organizing social and cultural activities. In all its activities XIOS is having special attention for the development of life time learning.

b) All Erasmus activities are given visibility in all XIOS departments (newsletter). As a result XIOS’ participation in the Socrates Program has more than tripled during the past 5 years.

Very often publicity to the Erasmus activities is given in the local media.
Diversity has become a priority for XIOS. A special coordinator will see to it that all forms of discrimination (gender, colour of skin and religion) will be rejected and that the integration of disabled persons will be facilitated.

Special efforts are made to assure the participation of the less fortunate.

II. Quality of academic mobility activities:

Quality is one of XIOS’ most important priorities. XIOS will be able to offer a great number of highly qualified study fields  (with an international accreditation) by creating more contacts with foreign institutes and companies, by adapting a positive policy towards economical social and cultural integration. Together with the experiences of our students and the contacts with foreign institutes and companies, the results of our teaching staff mobility  have made it possible to improve the quality of our study programmes. International contacts make sure that the education processes and programmes can bear international comparison at all times.

In this matter and conform with XIOS’ education rules ECTS has become a top priority for XIOS, so that the recognition of study programmes, the expansion of international modules and research programmes are becoming a reality. XIOS will also see to it that incoming students and teachers are well taken care of (accommodation, social services, cultural activities, language courses) and that outgoing students and teachers are solidly  prepared. Incoming students and teachers can find all the necessary information on the XIOS website. At their arrival they receive a brochure with practical advise. Each incoming foreign student can express all his needs to and discuss all his problems with his XIOS tutor. Outgoing students (& teachers) receive all necessary information about the partner institution and the practical arrangements. In order to extend the communication skills of our students (& teachers) and to optimize their preparation for a stay abroad, more foreign language courses are offered within the departments. It is evident that the teachers who are involved in foreign projects must possess the necessary qualities and must combine experience and knowledge with motivation. XIOS will continue to stimulate academic mobility activities in order to increase the collaboration with  highly recommended partner institutions.

III. Quality of student placement activities:

Since the start of XIOS Hogeschool Limburg most efforts in student mobility were made with special attention for the vocational training of our students in different countries and sectors. A great number of these traineeships were realized within the Leonardo da Vinci Program. The main objective has always been to guarantee and to increase the possibilities for our students on the labour market in Belgium and abroad. Responding to and anticipating all changes and developments XIOS continuously optimises its education programme in order to guarantee a permanent influx of its highly qualified graduates into the labour market. XIOS achieves this aim thanks to its excellent internal quality assurance, based among other things on continuous assessment. Work placement has always been an important part of the study program curriculum and provides a large contribution to the formation of our students. The professional and cultural preparation of our trainees and outgoing students has XIOS’ special attention. Students receive all the necessary information about the work placement and the local tutor(s). Every trainee has to report to the tutor of the foreign partner and is permanently in contact with his XIOS tutor. Trainees will also be evaluated by their local (foreign) tutor and will receive an evaluation report at the end of their vocational training. Work placement students are strongly advised to take preparatory language courses. Just like the study programmes the work placement  has to match up with the XIOS standards and has to find its place in ECTS. The results of the work placement activities will be visible in a clear profile of the study programmes. In case of emergency XIOS is prepared to assist the students on location and eventually repatriate them. XIOS will continue to stimulate the vocational training of its students abroad. The list of foreign companies and institutes where our students can fulfil a traineeship will be extended in number and quality.