The InternAbroad programme
Outputs and effects
Rapport • Part of report series: YesThis report presents the results and outcomes of the InternAbroad projects at the end of the project period and examines longer‑term effects of participation through a follow‑up survey conducted one to six years after project finalisation, assessing whether the programme led to lasting changes at the involved faculties and institutions.
Summary
The InternAbroad programme was a funding scheme lasting from 2017–2024, supporting Norwegian higher education institutions in developing structures for student internships abroad as part of study programmes. The programme was aligned with the Norwegian North America and Panorama strategies, aiming to strengthen academic and business relations between Norway and the selected partner countries: Brazil, Canada, China, India, Japan, Russia, South Africa, and the USA.
Across 38 projects, a total of 225 students completed internships abroad during the project period, primarily in South Africa and Brazil, but also in the other target countries. Internships were organised through a combination of international university partnerships and direct collaboration with work‑life partners, including companies, NGOs, schools, hospitals, and public organisations.
InternAbroad generated effects at multiple levels
Project reporting shows that InternAbroad generated effects at multiple levels. Most projects reported positive outcomes for students, particularly in terms of intercultural competence, adaptability, professional networks, and field‑specific knowledge. For staff, the most prominent effect was strengthened international networks. By project completion, two‑thirds of the projects had established lasting structures for international work placements, such as mobility windows, exchange agreements, and memoranda of understanding.
A follow‑up survey conducted 1-6 years after project finalisation indicates substantial long‑term effects. Seventy percent of respondents continued to send students abroad for internships, with the annual number of students nearly quadrupling compared to the project period. Some institutions maintained their InternAbroad partnerships, while others expanded into Europe and Africa.
Despite ongoing challenges related to administrative workload and funding, the findings suggest that InternAbroad contributed to sustainable institutional frameworks for international internships, benefiting students, staff, institutions, and work‑life partners