This report contains an assessment of the quality of internationalisation at the bachelor programme in Hotel Management of Breda University of Applied Sciences (BUas). The audit was performed by an international panel, convened by AeQui, during a site visit to Breda on 15 and 16 April 2024 in Breda, The Netherlands.

The panel’s findings, considerations and conclusions are based on a dedicated self-evaluation report, additional materials illustrating BUas’s performance on internationalisation and discussions with different stakeholders. Based on the studied documents and the discussions during the site visit, the panel concludes that internationalisation is at the heart of the programme. And that goals have been made explicit and are supported by the different stakeholders. In addition, the panel notes that the internationalisation goals have been translated into realistic objectives, regarding education, research and organisation. Since internationalisation is at the heart of the programme, this is also an integral part of student’s education. The panel is of the opinion that the BUas goals and the focus on internationalisation are unique selling points of the programme.

Moreover, the panel establishes that the internationalisation plans are adequately documented. The panel recommends the programme to make internationalisation and intercultural competences as well as the BUas+ goals even more explicit in the intended learning outcomes of the new curriculum. The panel assesses Standard 1. Intended internationalisation as good.

Regarding standard 2, the panel concludes that the underlying criteria of this standard are met by the programme. Intended learning outcomes regarding international and intercultural learning are defined at programme and course level, are implemented in the curriculum and assessed properly. Regarding the achievement of graduates, the panel concludes that the programme succeeds in educating ‘+shaped’ professionals: professionals with a broad view that can find their way in a challenging future in an international environment. The panel recommends the programme to make the intended international and intercultural learning outcomes more explicit in the assessment of the thesis in the new curriculum. The panel assesses Standard 2. International and intercultural learning as good.

The panel found that the content and the structure of the curriculum provide excellent means for achieving its international and intercultural intended learning outcomes. In addition, the teaching methods are very suitable, and the programme succeeds in creating an international learning environment that fosters and stimulates the development of international and intercultural competences. The panel therefore assesses Standard 3: Teaching and Learning as good.

Concerning standard 4, the panel concludes that the composition of the staff facilitates the achievement of the international and intercultural intended learning outcomes quite well. Staff members have international experience and good intercultural competences and language skills. BUas and the programme provide ample services to staff to facilitate international experiences, intercultural competences and language skills. The services are in line with the staff composition and needs. Welcoming the international and intercultural background of many Dutch staff, the panel nonetheless advises the programme to continue recruiting also staff with non-Dutch nationality in order to maintain a truly multinational and intercultural team. The panel assesses Standard 4: Staff as good.

The panel found that the composition of the student group is in line with the programme’s internationalisation goals. However, it also concludes that the number of international students is not in line with BUas ambitions. The programme’s internationalisation goals are supported by the excellent opportunities for students to gain internationalisation experiences and the extensive services related to internationalisation. The panel recommends that, despite current uncertainties, the programme actively focuses on recruiting more international students. In addition, the panel suggests the programme to connect international students to a buddy from the bachelor’s programme. The panel therefore assesses Standard 5: Students as satisfactory.

In conclusion, the panel considers that the bachelor programme in Hotel Management fulfils each of the five standards of the CeQuInt assessment framework. Four standards are judged to be of good quality. The panel’s overall assessment on the quality of internationalisation is therefore positive.