Internationalization at home and student engagement: a qualitative analysis of student perceptions at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität and Università degli Studi di Padova

This thesis investigates the perception of internationalization at home initiatives among local and international students in two universities: Università degli studi di Padova and Ludwig-Maximillians-Universität in Munchen. This thesis is based on the results from 30 semi-structured interviews conducted with three target groups (domestic, degree-seeking and mobility students) at the two universities and a comprehensive literature review on IaH, culture and ICC, and international students’ stressors and facilitators. This thesis shows the importance of cross-cultural interaction in the development of ICC and underlines the necessity to develop an academic setting which fosters the engagement between the target groups.