Enhancing Readiness for Virtual and Blended International Collaboration in Higher Education: Insights from an Online Training Module

International collaboration activities in virtual or blended modalities are becoming increasingly common, enhancing the internationalisation of higher education institutions in teaching and learning. This is crucial for equipping students with intercultural competencies and fostering open-mindedness. One key strategy to promote such activities is faculty and staff training. This study examines the outcomes of an online training module involving higher education teachers and administrative/technical staff. The course positively influenced participants' perception of international collaboration, especially for the group with a less initially positive perception of similar activities. Moreover, it improved the participants' readiness to engage in these activities by contributing to developing their teaching strategies. The findings highlight the role of professional development in fostering international collaboration in education and suggest that targeted training can support higher education institutions in integrating virtual and blended collaboration more effectively.