Enhancing internationalization at home in biomedical education: Evidence from a multi-institutional Erasmus+ Capacity-Building project in the Western Balkans

Abstract

This is a comprehensive analysis study related to the integration of internationalization at home among seven universities within the framework of the BIOSINT project: "Strengthening capacities and digital competences in biomedical education through internationalization at home," - Erasmus+ Capacity Building in Higher Education project – Strand 2 (ERASMUS-EDU-2022-CBHE, action: ERASMUS-LS), 101082863, co-funded by the European Union. Surveys were conducted among 2,927 students, 308 academic staff, and seven Deans. The data were analyzed, and chi-square tests and descriptive comparisons were made to evaluate topics such as mobility interest, language proficiency, and institutional support. Qualitative responses were also examined to better understand barriers and opportunities. Based on the results, SWOT analyses were performed, and a common framework was developed for creating strategies for each institution for Internationalization at Home. Actions such as curriculum internationalization, the introduction of virtual classrooms, mentoring systems, incoming guides, security protocols, and training related to IaH for staff and students were implemented during the project. Statistical analysis showed a significant improvement in the IaH index among the participating institutions. Specifically, the overall IaH index increased from an average of 39.3% to 55.6%, a statistically significant change (t = 41.00, p < 0.001), reflecting enhanced maturity levels across the partner institutions. This demonstrates the efficacy of the BIOSINT project implementation. Further steps should be taken to increase the impact of activities related to IaH.