International Staff Week 2026
What to expect
The ISW aims to revolutionise international offices by providing innovative solutions for the dynamic world of study abroad. Participating in our fun and inspiring training week will invite you to leave your comfort zone, discover new mechanisms of student support, and help you navigate some of the modern challenges of student mobility. Our goal: to empower professional services staff working in the field of study abroad.
Structure of the International Staff Week
By visiting two countries in one week, with a travel day in between, delegates will be immersed in an interactive learning experience that will allow them to:
- Attend workshops and seminars on topics such as international partnerships and collaborations, intercultural communication, and the role of international offices in designing study abroad programmes.
- Panel discussions featuring staff and faculty from different universities and countries sharing their experiences and insights on international collaboration and student mobility.
- Networking events and cultural activities that provide opportunities for staff from different universities and countries to connect and build relationships.
To get an idea about the structure of the International Staff Week 2025, please view the programme of the previous edition.
Costs
The costs to participate in the International Staff Week are €450 (subject to change). This includes participation in the programme, lunch throughout the week, except the Wednesday, and two evening dinners. Hotel costs and airfare are not included.
We are pleased to offer a tuition waiver to participants of U21 partner institutions.
Registration and requirements
- The staff training week is open to all junior and senior staff members of our partner and prospective partner universities who work in the field of internationalisation and student experiences.
- Unfortunately, we do not have enough capacity to accept those who work in other areas.
- A maximum of 2 participants per university will be considered to ensure diversity of the group.
- Attendance for the full programme is required.
- If we receive more applications than spaces available, the University of Amsterdam and the University of Edinburgh will undertake a selection process and will ensure that the selected representatives are the best match for our staff week theme.
If you would like to stay informed about the next International Staff Week, please fill in the form below to be added to our mailing list.
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Some delegate comments on previous International Staff Weeks
‘It was an absolute pleasure to take part in the International Staff Training Week on Celebrating Global Partnerships! What an inspiring and thought-provoking experience in the company of wonderful colleagues from across the globe!'
‘Beautiful moments we had during the ISW are still lingering on my mind. The creative ideas we shared enlighten me and the strength derived from our teamwork gave me confidence when I face challenges. It was absolutely rewarding experience for me, not only because of the knowledge and experience I learned during the ISW, but more important, the friendship and the connection we established at the ISW enrich my career and life.’
'The programme was very exciting for me --full of new discoveries and interesting knowledge and meeting with colleagues from all over the world. There were many perspectives and ideas that were quite new for me, and for a Japanese university and I am glad to share these with my colleagues at our university.'
‘I was very impressed by the International Staff Week. I think it was a great mix of staff who were less experienced & more experienced and I would encourage that approach continue so that the program has learning for all attendees.’
‘I thought the World Cafe was particularly great as it was a chance to talk with colleagues about issues and see what other universities were doing to resolve them. It was a great way to get fresh, new ideas to solve ever-standing problems.’
‘It was such a great week, meeting you all and meeting colleagues from around the world. The topics were very interesting and hits right into our daily work in the international offices. It was very insightful and inspiring to discuss these topics.’
‘I liked the whole week and I liked how internationalisation is seen as a process which in many places is underway and not completed. At the same time universities like Amsterdam and Edinburgh that have many international students also have lots of experience with internationalisation, and it is great they want to share this knowledge with others.’
ISW 2023 delegates at the Royal Tropical Institute, Amsterdam - Photo: Jur Kous