Rethinking academic mobilities in times of polycrisis

Academic mobilities—the movement of students, teachers, researchers, and staff between institutions of higher education—have long been integral to the idea and ecosystem of the university. Mobility is one of the key mechanisms through which processes of internationalisation occur and is perceived as a major form of professional identity capital in the academic labour market. It should be understood as the capacity to navigate higher education systems over time, space, and institutional boundaries. This capacity does not emerge organically. It must be intentionally designed into governance structures, curricular architectures, digital infrastructures, and institutional values. There are distinct institutional requirements and risks associated with each form of academic mobility, underscoring that mobility is not a single policy instrument but a bundle of interdependent design challenges.