Abstract

Internationalization of higher education is a priority in the political-cultural agenda of many European and extra European countries. What is the state of internationalization of Psychology in Italy? What are the main actions undertaken in this perspective? The present study aimed at tackling these issues through an exploratory investigation. Twenty-two academic Institutions (University International Relations Offices and departments of Psychology) in northern, central, and southern Italy agreed to participate by responding to an online questionnaire. Indicators of internationalization included student mobility, the presence of English-taught course units or degrees, and Departments' organizational structure. Overall, the data revealed a positive and highly dynamic scenario, even though differences in size among Institutions were a main source of variability. Outgoing student mobility is constantly growing, in particular when the period abroad is dedicated to traineeship activities. The presence of English-taught course units or full degrees has also strongly increased in recent years, but the number of international students enrolled in Italian Universities remains small. Nearly all Departments who participated in the study nominated a committee for the coordination of international activities, although coherent guidelines and strategic views are often lacking. Based on these observations, we conclude with some reflections concerning the future perspectives for internationalization of Psychology within the Italian context.