Second place for FH Salzburg! The Salzburg University of Applied Sciences has been recognised in the category “Measures to Promote Mobility for Underrepresented Student Groups” with its project “Studying Abroad with a Child”. This initiative sends a strong signal for inclusive internationalisation: it supports students with children before, during and after their time abroad, creates visibility, and provides sustainable information and advisory services. A flagship project that demonstrates: mobility should never depend on care responsibilities – and studying abroad is possible for students with children.
The OeAD (Austria’s Agency for Education and Internationalisation) and the Federal Ministry for Women, Science and Research (BMFWF) presented the “Internationalisation Award” for the first time in 2025, recognising outstanding examples of implementing the National Higher Education Mobility and Internationalisation Strategy. Salzburg University of Applied Sciences was honoured for its measures to promote international mobility among underrepresented student groups. In the category “Measures to Promote Mobility for Underrepresented Student Groups”, the university impressed with its project “Studying Abroad with a Child: Three Students, Three Paths, One Shared Goal” and was awarded second place.
Three Students Show How Studying Abroad with Family Works
The project illustrates how an international experience can be achieved even with family responsibilities – through targeted advice, structural support and digital tools. Three FH Salzburg students successfully took this path: Olivia, Philipp and Florian completed their semesters abroad in Mexico, Sweden and Germany – supported by the International Office and Erasmus+ inclusion funding.
“Mobility should not be exclusive, but inclusive,” emphasised Jennifer Simon, project lead at the International Office, who accepted the award on 27 November 2025 during the OeAD Higher Education Conference in Kufstein.
Clear information materials, a digital application process and personalised guidance help remove barriers and open new perspectives. The experiences of these three students will serve as role models and be integrated into future information events and publications.
This award highlights FH Salzburg’s commitment to equality of opportunity and diversity in an international context.
Project: Studying Abroad with a Child
Jury’s reasoning for the Internationalisation Award:
The project “Studying Abroad with a Child” at Salzburg University of Applied Sciences supported three students with children before, during and after their time abroad and developed information and advisory materials for future student parents. The project stands out for its exemplary approach to promoting mobility among students with children – a group whose specific challenges are often overlooked in higher education. It goes beyond standard measures and demonstrates clearly and transparently how support services can be designed so that care responsibilities no longer pose a barrier to mobility. Particularly noteworthy is the targeted creation of visibility for this student group: through formats such as podcasts and other outreach activities, the project makes an important contribution to sharing experiences, breaking down barriers and encouraging other affected students to seize mobility opportunities. The measures described are designed for long-term impact, extending beyond individual mobility phases. This project sends a strong message that internationalisation can and should be inclusive – and that studying abroad should be a natural option for students with children. https://www.hmis2030.at/example/detail/a1a452ea-b0e4-460e-932e-86e113c37ec1.html
Internationalisation Award: The Prize for Higher Education Mobility and Internationalisation Strategy
The Internationalisation Award recognises, for the first time, examples of good practice in implementing the objectives of the National Higher Education Mobility and Internationalisation Strategy (HMIS2030). The award is presented in four categories and aims to highlight outstanding measures that promote the internationalisation of teaching and learning, support mobility for university staff and underrepresented student groups, and foster a vibrant international campus culture.