The IC Global Café: Local Value, Global Vision: Internationalisation at Home and Beyond

As UK universities face growing expectations to demonstrate their civic contribution, a key question emerges:

How do we show the local value of internationalisation and transnational education (TNE)?

While the global reach of our sector is well recognised, the local story – how internationalisation enriches communities, creates opportunities for home students, and builds shared prosperity -often remains less visible. This is where Internationalisation at Home and community-focused internationalisation and TNE can make a real difference.

Across the sector, there are already inspiring examples of how global engagement can strengthen local impact, yet there is still much to explore and learn from one another.

This IC Global Café will explore some inspiring examples of how global engagement can strengthen local impact as we learn from one another.

FACILITATOR & EXPERT SPEAKERS

Facilitator:

• Sirin Myles, Co-founder and Director, The IC Global Partnership

Expert speaker:

• Prof. Abhi Veerakumarasivam, Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Sunway University

Professor Abhi Veerakumarasivam is Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Sunway University, where he leads the flagship UK-Malaysia TNE partnership with Lancaster University and other global partnerships, including Arizona State University, Cambridge and Oxford. Under his leadership, these partnerships have nurtured thousands of students to develop global perspectives, skills, and values while contributing meaningfully to their local communities. A Cambridge-trained cancer geneticist, Prof Abhi bridges research, education, and policy to champion evidence-based decision-making in higher education. He also served as inaugural Chair of INGSA-Asia and co-founded the ASEAN Young Scientists Network to foster greater regional collaboration and impact. He is one of the architects of the current Malaysian Higher Education Blueprint 2025-2035. At Sunway, he drives the vision of a mission-driven, 5th generation university for people and the planet, demonstrating how internationalisation at home and abroad can deliver local value with a global vision.

• Dr Caroline Baylon, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (International), University of Reading

As Pro-Vice-Chancellor (International), Dr Caroline Baylon leads on the University of Reading’s strategic international goals. This includes overseeing important student recruitment objectives, international campuses, transnational education and research partnerships, and global engagement to enhance Reading’s international profile, reputation and relationships in key regions. She is on the University Executive Board and joined the University of Reading in 2023. Her previous role was Director International at the University of Bristol and before this she worked as Director of International Partnerships at the University of Bath, heading up its International Relations Office. Caroline has held a number of senior roles such as Head of International Development at the University of the Arts London (UAL) and Head of International Strategy at the Arts and Humanities Research Council. Her career has also seen her work as a Project Manager in the Research and Enterprise division at the University of Bristol, and as a Financial Analyst at the Ministry of Defence. Caroline holds a BA in Public Policy and Management from the Institut d’études politiques de Grenoble in France, and an MA in European Studies (Euromasters) and a Doctorate in Business Administration (Higher Education Management) from the University of Bath.