Certificate of International Learning (CIL)

What is the Certificate of International Learning (CIL)?

The Certificate of International Learning (CIL) is an overview of all types of internastional activity the student has undertaken during his or her study period, whether abroad or at home. The student's thoughts on the activities he/she has participated in is also an important part of obtaining such a certificate. The student must take part in a total of three different activities both at home and abroad. This is a requirement.

You can find more information about CIL on the student pages.

Why should HiOA offer CIL to its students?

CIL should be a career tool for the student and at the same time a tool in HiOA's work with internationalisation. The ambitions of HiOA's Strategy 2024 encourage both employees and students to become more involved in international activity.

Benefits for the student:

• Easier access to - and a wider scope of - international opportunities.
• Increased awareness of expertise and the advantageous aspect of international experience
• Exercise in how to best present their international experience (CIL Career Course)
• Employers are given an clear overview of the international expertise of HiOA’s candidates
• Career benefits

Benefits for the internationalisation work at HiOA:

• Issuing CIL requires a review of programme plans to map possible activities. This process will create increased awareness of internationalisation in the academic environments, highlight current opportunities, ensure that international activities are integrated into the programme plans and stimulate further development of international activity both abroad and, last but not least, at home.
• Increased student participation in international activities at home and abroad. An international certificate should be so attractive to the students that it serves as an incentive to acquire a wider international experience.
• At the same time, the academic processes that underlie it all will benefit all students in the participating study programmes, including those who do not meet the requirements for a certificate and non-mobile students.
• International cooperation is encouraged by a more systematic use of guest lecturers and an increased use of exchange agreements.

Central resource group

A central resource group consisting of representatives from the Section for Internationalisation and each of the faculties has been established for CIL. The group provides information, coordinates initiatives and supports academic environments that wish to start up.

Are you considering offering your students CIL? Proceed like this:

1. Initiative

Initiative to introduce CIL can come from the faculty or departmental management, heads of studies, other TR staff (teaching and research staff) / adm., the faculty’s representatives in the central resource group or from students. The faculty representative in the central resource group  or the head of the group are a natural first contact persons(see contact information).

2. Anchoring

The initiator must contact the faculty’s representative in the central resource group or the head of the group. All initiatives must be reported to the central resource group. Then contact then the head of study for the relevant study programme as well as the head of Section for Academic Affairs and Internationalisation. These will assess resource use on the administrative and scientific part, respectively. As soon as both administrative and scientific resources have been clarified, the matter is sent to the head of department for final approval. The dean and vicedean for academic affairs and internationalisation must be informed.

3. Local resource group

The local resource group must ensure connection with the study programme and the quality assurance of CIL at the individual study programme. Defining what can be approved as a CIL-activity forms an important task. The group will usually be made up as follows:

• An administrative resource (it is recommended that the faculty representative in the central resource group takes on this role in the start-up phase. Eventually, the role can be taken over by other administrative resources, e.g, the administrative international coordinator).
• The faculty’s representative in the central resource group
• Scientific international coordinator
• A representative from the TR staff
• 1-2 students (preferably with international experience)

CIL procedures have been prepared. Contact the faculty representative in the central resource group or the head for details.

Resource use

It is difficult to state a specific hourly load for the development, implementation and operation of CIL at the individual study programme. Resource use will depend on the number of international activities that are already in place on the study programme as well as the number of students. The central resource group will provide assistance and support in all phases. In theory it should bepossible to develop, implement and operate CIL with relatively limited resources. At present we only expect a small part of students to sing up. As CIL becomes more known among the students and more people sign up, resource needs may increase, especially on the administrative part. Roughly speaking, the following must be assumed:

Development and implementation

• A half-day workshop in the local resource group during the development phase (find activities)
• 1-2 meetings to assess suggestions for activities
• Information work aimed at the students in the form of web pages and information meetings (in connection with information meetings on exchange)

Operation

• Follow up on students who sign up, provide for progress and final diploma (adm.)
• 1-2 meetings per term for the local resource group to assess the final reflection report
• Ongoing assessment of possible new activities