International Higher Education SIG
About the International HE SIG
Our International HE SIG welcomes anyone who has an interest in any international dimension of HE. You don’t have to be working in international offices or affairs to join our SIG. We welcome those with an interest, new to international education, more experienced colleagues, or any international members of AHEP.
We aim to provide an inclusive and collaborative environment where members can enhance their knowledge, skills and confidence in areas associated with international student experience, global opportunities, partnerships and collaborative provision, as well as a forum for international staff members working in institutions in the UK and Ireland.
What can you expect from the International HE SIG?
We hope that the International HE SIG will offer its members the following:
– A forum for members to discuss areas of shared interest around the international dimensions in HE
– A place to share best practice around international student support, and the challenges facing international students in the HE sector
– Be a champion for internationalisation initiatives
– A forum for international staff working in the UK to reflect upon their experiences
– Provide expert insight and up-to-date intelligence to support greater understanding of other countries HE contexts,
– Promoting and encouraging intercultural exchange opportunities for professional development
– Opportunities to enhance staff confidence around intercultural communication and cultural intelligence
– Establishing an online network to allow members to better connect and share opportunities and resources.
– Workshops on specific themes that have been identified as being beneficial for SIG members
– Develop and nurture AHEP’s relationship with its partner organisations, offering unique networking opportunities with those outside the UK HE sector.
To access more information and become a member of this SIG, sign into your AHEP account. Not an AHEP member? Join now!
Meet the Coordinators
Emma Marku, International HE SIG Lead Coordinator
Global Opportunities Manager
University of Kent
Emma Marku is a Global Opportunities Manager at the University of Kent and has been involved in international education for the past 15 years. She has worked within International Student Recruitment, Study Abroad, International Partnerships, and her current role is based within Global Learning which allows her to work closely with colleagues to identify, explore and develop new global opportunities for students that supports Internationalisation at Home initiatives, short summer courses and advocate for enhancing the international student experience.
Emma is also a staff sustainability champion at the University of Kent, and a member of UUKi’s Climate Action Task and Finish Group, she has co-chaired the UUKi’s working group for Internationalisation at Home for the past two years and been a member of the Association of Higher Education Professionals since 2014. She has participated in AHEP’s virtual study tours on China and Greece and looks forward to bringing her passion and enthusiasm for International HE into her role as Lead Coordinator, hoping to build on existing relationships with its members and organisation around the world to contribute to the development of others.
Aubrey Bierwirth, International HE Deputy Coordinator
University Relations Manager
ISEP
Aubrey Bierwirth is currently a University Relations Manager at ISEP Study Abroad, where she nurtures relationships with member institutions across northern and central Europe to facilitate global student mobility. With nearly a decade of experience in international higher education, she has previously held roles in student mobility, international student support and experience, and international partnership development, at universities in the United States, England, and Scotland.
Rebecca Swindell, International HE Deputy Coordinator
Collaborations and Partnerships Senior Quality Advisor
Nottingham Trent University
Rebecca is a Deputy Coordinator for the International SIG, and currently works at Nottingham Trent University as a Collaborations and Partnerships Senior Quality Advisor in the Centre for Academic Development and Quality, a role which involves quality-assuring provision delivered by international partners, supporting course design for new and existing courses, assisting academic schools with quality queries, and reviewing and updating academic policies.
At Nottingham Trent, Rebecca is also Co-Chair of the Trent Institute of Learning and Teaching (TILT) International Practice and Scholarship Group which aims to enhance the international student experience through better supporting academic and professional services staff at the university.
Rebecca hopes that her role as Deputy Coordinator will help with the provision of a platform for exploration of all aspects of internationalisation in higher education.
Connect with Rebecca on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-swindell-96a6869
Dr Malgorzata (Gosia) Drewniok, International HE SIG Deputy Coordinator
Assistant Director for International Student Success
University of Bristol
Gosia joined University of Bristol in July 2024 to take up a newly created role focused on international student success. She has a PhD in Linguistics and started her career in UK HE teaching academic English and study skills to international students. She later moved into leadership within Professional Services. Throughout her career, she has been working with international students and her role at Bristol spans the whole university, allowing her to work with both academic and professional colleagues. She is passionate about supporting international students throughout their study journey and creating an environment in which they can thrive. She also regularly delivers workshops for colleagues across her institution on working with international students.