LITE: Transformative Leadership for Internationalisation

About the training:

Colombia is a diverse country with varying realities and needs across its territory. This has shaped the internationalisation of higher education as an interconnected, vibrant, and dynamic network. Currently, Colombia has Policy Guidelines for the Internationalisation of Higher Education that help outline an institutional pathway toward internationalisation, particularly for institutions in early stages of development. Therefore, it is essential to have training spaces and capacity-building opportunities that enable the leaders in higher education to navigate this complex landscape. The program “LITE: Transformative Leadership for Internationalisation” aims to highlight the diverse leadership styles present across the country, connecting them with key national resources such as the Policy Guidelines for the Internationalisation of Higher Education and their indicators. In doing so, it seeks to contribute to the Colombian higher education system and strengthen internationalisation efforts grounded in diverse local realities. Through this course, the goal was to bridge the gap between national policy design and its implementation in local contexts, thereby promoting a more articulated higher education system with a more relevant international outlook. To achieve this, the program fostered the appropriation of these guidelines and institutions, encouraged the development of internationalisation projects within their institutional environments, and strengthened the leadership capacities of those responsible for driving these processes.

Expected learning outcomes:

By the end of the program, participants are expected to:

• Demonstrate the ability to align national internationalisation policy guidelines with their institutional contexts, ensuring coherent and context-sensitive implementation.
• Design and implement internationalisation initiatives within their higher education institutions (HEIs), contributing to more globally engaged academic environments.
• Apply strengthened leadership competencies to lead internationalisation processes and empower institutional stakeholders effectively.
• Contribute to bridging the gap between national frameworks and local practices, fostering a more connected and globally committed higher education system in Colombia.
• Develop projects that comprehensively incorporate the international dimension, including elements such as curriculum, research, outreach, and university management.
• Gain leadership skills to enable them to effectively guide internationalisation teams, engage key stakeholders, and drive institutional change toward context-relevant internationalisation.

Target group:

Professionals with 2 to 5 years of experience in HEI management, who lead, coordinate, or support internationalisation processes in Colombian Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), especially those who aim to:

• Rethink and transform their leadership practice.
• Develop competencies to lead teams and manage change processes.
• Design and implement internationalisation projects within their institutions.
• Co-create a more inclusive, participatory, and context-relevant vision of internationalisation.

Training dates:

• Workshop 1: 24th -26th November 2025

• Workshop 2: 27th -30th April 2026