EAE Business School Barcelona (Spain) and the Krakow University of Economics (Poland), initiated a strategic higher education partnership aimed at promoting student internationalization through a multicultural academic framework. This article explores the barriers encountered during the establishment and early stages of this inter-university collaboration, with a specific focus on cultural differences and spatio-temporal constraints.

Through a qualitative case study approach involving interviews with faculty coordinators and international administrative staff, the study identifies key challenges related to language and communication styles, differing academic norms, time zone discrepancies, and institutional expectations. These barriers, while significant, were addressed through a series of targeted strategies, including the implementation of bilingual communication protocols, intercultural training sessions and the use of digital collaboration platforms.

Findings contribute to the broader discourse on international academic collaboration by providing practical insights into how universities can foster productive partnerships despite geographical and cultural distances. The study also underscores the evolving role of institutions in facilitating intercultural understanding and institutional alignment in globally distributed educational environments.

This research highlights the symbiotic relationship between students and academic staff in navigating international collaborations, offering a model for other institutions seeking to enhance the global dimension of higher education while addressing operational and cultural barriers.

Keywords: Higher Education Collaboration, Internationalization, Cultural Barriers, Poland-Spain Academic Partnerships.