Internationalization
About 12,000 people with an international background, from more than 125 countries, currently study, research, teach, and work at RWTH. This internationality lived out at RWTH is flanked by strategies, measures, and services that promote the internationality of academics, teaching, and research.
RWTH sees itself as a member of a global scientific community and aims to be a home, hub, and catalyst for meaningful scientific education, careers, ideas, and innovations. We, therefore, see internationalization as a cross-cutting task that must be equally considered by all institutions and departments of the University.
The development of internationally recognized top-level research and teaching and learning as well as the aspiration to offer students the best possible preparation for life in a globally networked living environment and working world are guiding principles for the work of the University.
The measures of our internationalization strategy have been established around three strategic dimensions for the constant improvement of the quality of research, teaching and learning, and organization: International Profile, International Scientific Culture, and International Responsibility. Internationalization – understood as a qualitatively oriented process both internally and externally – will change the University in the medium and long term.
In 2021, RWTH Aachen University successfully passed the "Internationalization of Higher Education Institutions" audit awarded by the German Rectors' Conference (HRK).
Besides the Vice-Rector for International Affairs, the most important stakeholders for the internationalization process at RWTH are those involved in the faculties, the departmental exchange coordinators, Department 2.0 International Office, the Rector's Delegates for Collaboration with International Universities, and the RWTH liaison offices in Bejing, China and in New Delhi, India.