Internationalisation of curriculum: Analysis of subjects within the Faculty of Arts and Education at a regional Australian university

A regional university in Australia is dedicated to developing 21st-century graduates as global citizens. The curriculum is designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary for success in a globalised world. Assessing whether students are truly becoming ‘global citizens’ involves evaluating not just academic performance, but also intercultural competencies, global awareness, and adaptability. Immediate, tangible outcomes like job placements can take precedence over long-term goals like global readiness. There are many factors that hinders a comprehensive review of whether the curriculum is effectively preparing students to become global citizens. There has not been any systematic understanding of the research status of the internationalization of the curriculum (IoC). This paper reports on the experiences of academics and students regarding the internationalisation of the curriculum within the Faculty of Arts and Education (FoAE). A mixed-method approach was adopted over two years, involving surveys and one-on-one interviews with academics and students. Thematic analysis of the responses revealed both strengths and areas for improvement for integrating IoC in higher education institutions. While academics and students value an internationalised curriculum, it is inconsistently implemented across the curriculum and there is a need for universities to establish a clear framework or benchmark for evaluating the internationalisation of their curriculum to assess progress systematically. The study's findings offer valuable insights for enhancing the internationalisation of the curriculum and improving the effectiveness of academic staff in delivering globally relevant content. This could lead to a stronger institutional reputation, attract a more diverse and international student cohort, and has capability to positively impact the university's financial sustainability by aligning the curriculum with global education trends.