The Internationalisation at Home (IaH) programme continued to expand in 2025, with a 17% increase in participation and more than 500 students taking part. This growth highlights the increasing appetite among students for globally minded learning experiences.
The programme makes global learning accessible through online, collaborative learning, offering both extra-curricular and intra-curricular opportunities that build intercultural understanding, communication skills and global perspectives. These are key competencies that support students’ academic development, CVs and future career pathways.
Global Programmes delivered three interdisciplinary Global Classrooms this year, each connecting Sussex students with international peers to collaborate on real-world issues and explore diverse cultural approaches.
The third iteration of Imagining China expanded from a two-week to a four-week programme in May 2025, led by Dr Katrina Aiting Jia. Working with peers at our partner institution Zhejiang Gongshang University, 27 students explored how individuals and societies can foster intercultural competence, drawing on historical and contemporary examples including reflections on eighteenth-century Britain and the Brighton Royal Pavilion. Students examined how technology can support more meaningful intercultural engagement. One of our partner students reflected:
“It helped me to improve my oral English and build my confidence to communicate.”
Design Thinking: Cultural sensitivity in intercultural projects followed in June. After a successful pilot in 2024, the module returned in partnership with Mahidol University for the first time. Led by Dr Chris Stocking, 38 students collaborated over two weeks to design solutions addressing real-world challenges affecting communities in Pu Ngaol, Cambodia. The project encouraged students to consider the importance of cultural sensitivity and environmental sustainability when working in international contexts. Student feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with one participant noting:
“Being aware of and valuing intercultural communication is crucial for promoting understanding and cooperation among people from different cultural backgrounds.”
In August, Sustainability: UK and Ghana in context returned for its second year in collaboration with University of Ghana, following shortlistings in the Pieoneer Awards and Sussex Awards. Led by Hikima Baah (Sussex) and Rosina Foli (Ghana), 60 students worked together over four weeks examine sustainability initiatives relating to water and energy. By the end of the programme, students were able to identify opportunities and challenges faced by both countries in achieving UN Sustainable Development Goals 6 and 7. Reflecting on the practical application of the learning, one student shared:
“It has broadened my understanding of the interconnectivity of environmental issues to policy formulation and implementation.”
Global Programmes also supported a range of embedded international collaborations within teaching. Highlights from the Business School included Global Classrooms on International Marketing Collaboration and International Business Strategy Collaboration. In addition, partnering with OP Jindal Global University, Autism and Sensory Diversity explored inclusive education and cross-cultural approaches to neurodiversity.
As we look to 2026, Global Programmes aims to build on this momentum and will continue working closely with academic colleagues and international partners to provide accessible and impactful global learning opportunities.
Interested in collaborating or hearing more about our work? Contact us at GlobalOpportunities@sussex.ac.uk.