16 June 2026
Bilbao
The University of Deusto Staff Week 2026 was held from 9 to 12 June. The event, organised around the theme of ‘Internationalisation at Home’, brought together 18 professionals from 18 universities across 11 countries (including Europe, Asia, North America and South America). The main aim of the gathering was to explore methodologies and strategies for integrating international and intercultural dimensions directly into academic programmes, thereby offering global opportunities to all students.
Robert O’Dowd, professor at the University of León and one of the world’s leading experts on online learning and collaboration, was tasked with opening the debate and proposing clear guidelines for higher education institutions.
In his keynote speech, “Virtual Exchange and Blended Mobility in European Higher Education: Opportunities and Challenges”, O’Dowd argued that the current educational landscape makes virtual exchange and blended mobility indispensable strategic tools for internationalisation and equity in the classroom. However, the expert considers it to be a tool that complements traditional mobility experiences, rather than a substitute for them. He also highlighted the need for careful design, support structures and meaningful recognition of work to ensure the success of the programmes. In this regard, O’Dowd urged International Relations offices to take an active role and emphasised the work of teaching teams.
In addition to O’Dowd’s presentation, Staff Week provided a dynamic and interactive space through poster sessions and practical workshops focused on designing courses using the COIL (Collaborative Online International Learning) methodology.
