The UK Government in Brazil is pleased to contribute to the upcoming FAUBAI 2025 conference, sharing best practices in language policy and internationalisation in higher education. As part of a larger delegation of UK Higher Education institutions attending FAUBAI, we aim to highlight the key role that strategic language policies and internationalisation efforts play in fostering global collaboration in higher education. This session will be an opportunity to explore how international partnerships can promote understanding across diverse cultural contexts, with a particular focus on the role of English in higher education, academic partnerships, research, and national policies of internationalisation. UK universities, government education specialists, as well as other institutions will share insights into how the UK have developed policies and practices that promote the inclusion of English as a medium of education, thus facilitating both mobility and the integration of international students and faculty. Additionally, we will explore how these policies can be adapted and implemented in Brazil to further support the objectives of internationalization.

Objectives:

1. Explore Language Policies as Catalysts for Internationalisation: Discuss how the UK has integrated English as medium of education with their international students in the higher education system to support international partnerships, research collaborations, and student mobility.

2. Developing Effective National Policies for Internationalisation: Review the UK's experience with national strategies for internationalisation at home and abroad, particularly the role of government policy in fostering sustainable international education partnerships. This will be relevant to Brazil as it looks to enhance its internationalisation agenda under the CAPES Global programme.

3. Fostering Collaborative Networks and Research Partnerships: Address how language policies can support the creation of long-term, impactful partnerships between Brazilian and UK institutions. The session will focus on how language and cultural understanding can help strengthen academic and research collaborations, especially in areas identified as priority for both countries, such as innovation, science, and diversity in education.

4. Practical Steps for Implementation: Provide concrete examples of how UK institutions have developed effective language policies and internationalisation strategies, offering practical ecommendations for Brazilian universities and the government as they continue to build their international education frameworks.

Discussion Questions:

• What opportunities exist for Brazil to integrate internationalisation and language policy into its education system to support the development of sustainable, globally competitive universities?

• How can language policies enhance the inclusivity and sustainability of international education partnerships between the UK and Brazil?

• What roles does English in higher education and language support play in fostering a more globally connected and culturally diverse higher education ecosystem and beyond (employability)?

• How can international partnerships in research and higher education help address global challenges?

By leveraging the UK's experience in internationalisation and language policy, this session will facilitate a rich exchange of ideas between Brazilian and UK policymakers, higher education leaders, and researchers. Together, we aim to explore how these strategies can be adapted to enhance the global competitiveness of Brazilian higher education, ultimately contributing to greater international collaboration and understanding in academia.