How do academics do internationalization?

Internationalisation is a strategic aim of many universities. Internationalisation research has explored diversity in curricula and among students. What has not been explored to the same extent is the place of internationalisation in academic work. We evaluate our internationalisation work using our institutions’ and Times Higher Education criteria. This evaluation shows that we contribute to our institutions’ strategic aims, but that personal processes are not made visible in such strategies and accounts. We find that our work requires small amounts of financial support, explicit moral support from our institutions and considerable good will on our part. In addition, trust, a sense of a shared mission and spontaneity are instrumental in how we ‘do’ internationalisation. Recognising that these criteria are difficult to quantify, we maintain that they have value for our universities, our students and ourselves and therefore suggest that they be considered in the planning and accounting of internationalisation work.