The UDIMA develops its Internationalisation Plan by using good practice and applying the established criteria (signing agreements with international universities, greater collaboration with foreign teachers and researchers, participation in international projects, etc.).
This plan is inspired by the renewed agenda for the modernisation of universities, the Europe 2020 Strategy and the Mobility Strategy 2020, steering towards the modernisation of Spanish universities and the development of the Spanish University System. It is also based on the aim of the Erasmus+ Programme which: "focuses on strategic alliances and formal and informal education beyond EU borders, opening up to third countries, with the aim of improving individuals’ education and training competences for a better employability of students, teachers and workers ".
The internationalisation framework of the UDIMA encompasses:
- Institutional cultural internationalisation: Extension of the international experience to members of the university that cannot undertake stays abroad and to foster the linguistic and inter-cultural competence of the university in collaboration with the UDIMA Language Institute.
- Teaching and research with an international dimension: Participation in inter-university R+D+i projects; hosting students, administration and services staff (PAS as per Spanish) and teaching and research staff (PDI as per Spanish) of partner universities; promotion of international inter-university collaborative activities in the framework of bilateral agreements.
- Mobility and participation in international academic networks: Mobility of students, PAS and PDI from the UDIMA and boosting the UDIMA's presence in international forums, associations and university networks.
This Internationalisation Strategy is also framed by the developments taking place in the scope of the Europe 2020 Strategy from the European Union, particularly with the emblematic initiatives 'Youth on the Move' and 'Innovation Union' from the European Commission, as well as:
- The Mobility Strategy 2020 for the European Higher Education Area (EHEA): Mobility for greater learning, promoted by the Education Ministers from the countries that make up the EHEA.
- The International Cooperation Strategy for Higher Education in the European Union (EU), promoted by the Spanish presidency of the European Council in the first half of 2010.
- The Spanish Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation.
- Act 14/2013, of 27 September, supporting entrepreneurs and their internationalisation and the new framework applicable to international mobility which comes into play in the attraction of talent.
- The European Union International Strategy for Higher Education in the world (2013).
- The State project "Spanish, the global language" which aims to "boost the value and use of Spanish and promote its ability to generate opportunities for the Spanish speaking communities".
International Relations Office
The International Relations Office (ORI as per Spanish) works to develop the UDIMA's internationalisation plan, as well as to carry out each of the previously described actions. Specifically, the roles of the ORI are:
- International agreements for research and double and joint qualifications: to promote, facilitate and support all activities with regard to establishing international agreements and double and joint qualifications.
- International networks, associations and international projects: to plan, manage and coordinate the University's international relations through the active participation in international networks and associations, and to promote, advertise and manage the international projects that the university is involved in.
- International mobility and the Erasmus + Programme: to promote, facilitate and support all the international mobility activities of students, PAS and PDI both in and outside of the Erasmus + programme.