Session 46: Transformative global immersion: advancing international collaboration, industry partnerships, and student success in higher education

Abstract

Session overview:

In today’s interconnected world, higher education institutions are tasked with equipping graduates to excel in diverse, rapidly evolving industries. This session presents a transformative model of global immersion that brings together cross-institutional collaboration, field-based learning, and robust industry engagement to enhance student readiness and professional identity. By exploring the experiences of students from LJMU School of Civil Engineering and Built Environment and Denver University, the session highlights how carefully structured international partnerships—both in local and foreign settings—can generate immediate academic gains and long-term career aspirations.

The session will contextualise an immersive programme that combined industry-sponsored case studies, multi-disciplinary group work, and field visits to major construction projects in the UK and the Middle East. By examining the programme’s design, methodology, and post-survey evaluation, attendees will gain insights into the logistical and pedagogical imperatives of implementing high-impact, short-duration overseas experiences. Special attention will be given to leveraging alumni networks, ensuring discipline-specific relevance, and balancing structured activities with reflective downtime.

This model reveals how authentic industry tasks and global exposure can deepen problem-solving skills, foster cultural agility, and spark innovative thinking among participants. Crucially, the work underscores the value of supportive staff mentorship and carefully orchestrated logistical arrangements that consider students’ varying academic needs. Overall, the session showcases a replicable framework for integrating real-world collaboration and international experiences, thus laying the groundwork for future graduates to thrive in a borderless, fast-paced professional landscape.

Key learning points from this session:

Attendees will discover how structured, multi-institutional collaborations and immersive industry engagements foster high-impact student learning. Key takeaways include strategies for designing integrative field visits, leveraging alumni networks, and nurturing multi-disciplinary collaboration—insights that can inform and transform global education initiatives across diverse higher education contexts.

Transformative global immersion: advancing international collaboration, industry partnerships, and student success in higher education PowerPoint. Only LJMU staff and students have access to this resource.