EUA’s view on Internationalisation

Michael Gaebel

European University AssociationBrussels

National Conference – Internationalisation of Higher Education

Brdo – 2 February 2011

…2…

European University Association

Overview

1. Internationalisation - what does it mean?2. Case study EUA 3. Case study Governments 4. Decisions to be taken by universities5. Perspectives for Slovenia

Universities are international by nature

Scholars + students from all over EuropeUniversality of sciences – truthUniversity model exported all arround the worldCommon good – cui bono?

…4…

TRENDS 2010 Report: A decade of change in European Higher Education

More than 800 university responses27 national rectors’ assocations28 site visits in 16 countries44%/ 58% of European studentswww.eua.be

…5…

TRENDS 2010: Strategic priorities

…6…

What is higher education internationalisation

“Internationalization at the national, sector, and institutional levels is defined as the process of integrating an international, intercultural, or global dimension  into the purpose, functions or delivery of postsecondary education.”

Jane Knight

“… as the international dimension of higher education gains more attention and recognition, people tend to use it in the way that best suits their purpose.”

Hans De Wit

…7…

…8…

Internationalisation

EUA’s view

…9…

EUA’s « European » MandateCore task: Strengthen the European

universities

Institutional development and dissemination of good practices

Policy development at European Level Bologna Process – European Higher Education

Area Lisbon Agenda – European Research Area

The European Dimension (Internationalisation I)

European higher education and Research AreaFuture of European HE not just a question of the Bologna process onlyFrom a university perspective - different reform processes impact on universities & their different missionsMobility, exchange and cooperation, systems’ convergenceModernisation of European HE: goverance, autonomy, fundingEuropean HE model?

…12…

The European HE model

intra-European cooperation and exchangebut also common approaches3 cycles - research based teaching Stronger link between EHEA and ERA QA – a European Dimension - EQAR Autonomy Profiling - diversity of missions Social dimension: inclusiveness, LLL Public responsiblity for HE

…13…

Bologna Process - good for Europe.

What about the rest of the world?

Higher education is internationalGlobal policy dialogue and partnership are key modes for Europe’s interaction with the wider world.The Bologna Process is a key opportunity for discussing and cooperating with international partners

…15…

International Interest in Bologna

Growing interest in the Bologna process across the globe

Demand for policy dialogue 3 cycle degree structure, how it articulates with other regions QA

Interest to link national/ regional HE systems to Bologna

Specific examples: Change in the attitude of US Graduate schools towards Bologna

degrees Australia has launched a consultation process on the impact of

Bologna on Australian HEIs and aspires for a SE Asia process Francophone Africa and the MEDA countries of the southern

Mediterranean adopt Bologna Reforms etc. Kazakhstan and Israel applied for Bologna membership

The Global Dimension of Eurpean Higher Education (Internationalisation

II)Europe is not isolatedGlobal pressures + challenges Global issues such as energy, climate , health, economies,

supplies, terms of trade Demographic changes increasing international interdependencies Research cooperation – beyond Europe’s borders Competition for brains, funding, resources

need to think and work in a global framework

…16…

Put Europe into global perspective

Internationalisation at EUA – How?Strategy paper: International AgendaGoals, means and possibilities (funding)

staffChange of EUA - involve colleaguesRisk of mission creepHow does it relate to National rectors’ conferences Individual university members address other levels than the rector within the university

European Commission: no international strategyDG Research, DG EAC, EuropeAid…18…

EUA’s International Agenda - 2006Global dialogue Dialogue and cooperation with partners in the wider world

European Research Area + European Higher Education Area in a global context European level policies for international exchange and

cooperation

Internationalisation of European Higher Education institutions European good practices for internationalisation

Put Europe into perspective to a wider world

…20…

Why EUA needs the international Agenda

Our members are internationalImproving understanding of the relationship between the EHEA and the wider world Understand where different agenda’s are interlinked (research,

battle for brains, TNE) Regionalisation? Asia, Latin America, Africa.... Mobility beyond Europe and equitable exchange Who is learning from Bologna....Is it a reference for quality?

Explain and promote the European HERecognitionInterest in regional HE convergence processesInformation on development trends in other world regions

Example: Europe-Africa cooperationAccess to Success – Fostering trust and exchange between Africa and Europe (2008-2010)

Erasmus Mundus Action 3: Enhancing the ‘attractiveness’ of European higher education

Goals enhance understanding and trustcontribute to policy developmentstimulate Africa-Europe institutional cooperation

and partnershipPromote the role of universities in development…21…

Outcomes

Addressing themes of mutual interest Access and retention Mobility (intraregional/ interregional) Cooperation between Africa and Europe

Networking among members and partners Arround 300 particpants, from different parts of Europe

and Africa (incl. Universities, Ministries, agenies etc.)

Link into the official Africa-EU Strategic PartnershipImpact on institutional and national cooperation approaches

…22…

Outcomes - continued

White Paper: Africa-Europe Higher Education Partnership for development: Meeting Regional and Global ChallengesTwo new projects involving African Partners: Quality Connect, Co-DocEmphasis on university contribution to development cooperation and institutional capacity buildingAfrica-Europe Platform?

…23…

Why Governmentswant internationalisation

3 examples

…24…

Example 1: Economic aspects

25

The global student marketIncrease in tertiary educationIncrease in mobile students: 2007 - 2.8 million students were enrolled in higher

educational institutions outside their country of origin a 53% increase since 1999

Six countries host 67% of the world’s foreign or mobile students: US (23%) UK (12%), Germany (11%), France (10%), Australia (7%) and Japan (5%)Transnational educationGrowth – but alsoDiversification of destinationsHome stayBrain drain – brain circulation…26…

Example 2:Humanism - and foreign politics

(1) Senator J. William Fulbright

The Fulbright Commission aims to bring a little more knowledge, a little more reason, and a little more compassion into world affairs and thereby increase the chance that nations will learn at last to live in peace and friendship.

 (2) Senator J. William Fulbrighteducational exchange as, "from the standpoint of future world peace and order, probably the most important and potentially rewarding of our foreign policy activities."

27

…28…

Example 3: Research collaboration – and competiveness

“We live at a time of great scientific opportunity, where global collaborations are essential for facilitating scientific discoveries aimed at improving public health. As science has become more complex, so has the need for both specialization and multidisciplinary approaches to problem-solving. While discovery increasingly depends on a new level of collaboration, it also depends on expertise, which may not reside within one country or even within one continent.”

29

Former US National Institutes for Health Director Elias Zerhouni and European Commissioner for Science and Research Janez Potocnik (14 Nov. 2008 in Science Magazine)

30

…31…

Climate change (catastrophes and opportunities)Globalisation (communication, transport, migration)Demographic developments Urbanization, city / region

Global issues

and national and regional competitiveness

agendas

Lisbon Strategy 2000: Europe – the most competitive knowledge economy

EU-2020: Smart growth

Bologna: regional convergence and international competitiveness

Prospects for International HE policy at European

levelSo far, at the EC “programme” logic DG research DG Education: Erasmus Mundus Development programmes

EU 2020 + new Modernisation Agenda for HE/ HEIEver first International HE StrategyNew European Foreign ServiceEnvironment is changing Tuition fees Demographic changes

…32…

How internationalisation impacts

the university and its members

…33…

Internationalisation – significant institutional implications

Every university has elements of internationalisationSystemematic approaches?Shared, communicated, within the institution – beyondClear goals defined, priortiesDedicated infrastructure, funding?Governance + Leadership International office, what is its role? Does the institutional leadership

contribute to internationalisation? Internationalisation – not a one man/ woman show

…34…

Since when do we actually have to explain why we do things the way we do?

Purposes

International research cooperation Exchange and cooperation in teaching Solidarity/ development cooperationAttracting (international) talentLack of (qualified) staff and studentsIncome from international studentsPartnership/ international outreachNational strategy – provision of incentivesEtc.

35

Example: partnershipsPartners – in other parts of the worldPartners of partnersRegional and international university networkLink it to non-university partners (industry)?IAU, EAIE, EUA

Institutional? Between departments?How drives it? Who can participate?Language prepardnessThe benefits?Duration?

…36…

StaffInternational staff – previously exceptionInternational experience – desired/ requiredWorking at home institution = in an international environmentLinguistic skillsCareer prospects beyond national bordersEconomic uncertainties (pensions, social security etc.)Strong implications for private life

…37…

StudentsFormerly exception due to personal circumstancesStudent mobility is more common Better education Education one can not get in the home country International experience Language learning etc.

Implications for career prospectsRange and volume of temporary mobility enhancedChoices - and economic restrictionsPart of study plan and student experienceRecognition - reintegration

…38…

Is the university prepared for international students?

Curricula?Language environment Information and support in foreign languagesWebsiteLanguage learning facilities

Student servicesIntegration of international studentsSending and receiving?

…39…

Communication + Promotion

How to promote the university? Research merits Excellence in teaching Slovenia International connectivity European backdrop?

• Bologna • Political Europe/ EU• Cultural diversity• Longstanding university traditions

…40…

Strategies and profilesNo university can do all – decisions to be takenDo not do it, because the others doWhat is the institutional potential?What are the options? Examples focus on certain geographical regionsCooperation with institutions of a similar typeEstablish multilevel partnershipsConsortia for projects Joint programmes, joint degreesProvision of international Masters/PHDOff shore campus …41…

Conclusion and open issues

National – international

As international dimension is growing Higher education: no longer a “national” affair onlyGrowing importance of supranational processes and trajectories Regional convergence Interregional relations Global Dimension

…43…

Reasons for institutional internationalisation

Understand others and learn from them, explain what we do, and ensure that we are understoodcompetitionsolidaritysynergies and cooperationa window with a view – to the worldGlobal Dialogue and internationalization of European universities

…44…

EUA TRENDS 2010: A four point agenda for the next decade

European Citizens for the 21 Century: Lifelong access to learningA partnership to support Quality, creativity and innovationThe European Knowledge AreaA European higher education identity in the world

…45…

…46…

European Higher Education and Research Area

- increasingly intertwined in a global setting

European higher Education Area (EHEA) and European Research Area (ERA) cannot function in a vacuumcommunicate and share the ‘European processes’ is crucialDifferent institutions and countries across the EHEA are at different phases of their ‘internationalisation’ process & have different prioritiesAttracting global talent- brain drain Demographic developments will play an increasingly important role

EUA Slide 46

Internationalisation, not commercialisation

Europe retains sensitivities about the institutional missionPolitical level: university a pillar of economic growth and competitivenessBut: Ministers confirm: Higher education – public good/ responsibilityValid in EuropeOutside: public universities turn private?Educating the global citizen

…47…

Future of the university

What type of universities do we need?Battle between a few global players - world class universitiesTransnational universities? Ranking of the top league?Or: Diversity of mission supported by robust HE systems

48

Internationalisation – also a matter of taking up different perspecitves...

Thank you

Information at www.eua.be

…50…

EUA Annual Conference 2011Investing Today in Talent for TomorrowHosted by Aarhus University, Denmark13-15 April 2011

…51…