Defining and Managing Internationalisation in

Higher Education Institutions

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Driving forces for focusing on

internationalisation• Globalization - increasing global

dependency • Demands from the labour market

and the students• Influence on research areas and

research collaboration• EU politics, EU programmes and the

Bologna process• Competition - national och

international• Funding opportunities

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Definition by Jane Knight, 1995

• ”Internationalisation of higher education is defined as the process of integrating an international dimension into the research, teaching and services functions of an institution of higher education.”

J. Knight & H. de Wit. (1995). Strategies for Internationalisation of higher education.

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What is internationalization?

• From the LU international policy:”Internationalisation of higher education is a change process preparing the students to be able to live and work successfully in an increasingly international och multicultural world”

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WHY? Rationales not mutually exclusive and changing

over time• Academic rationales: objectives

refer to the integration of an international dimension into teaching and research and to quality improvement.

• Social/Cultural rationales: objectives include the development of the individual, the role of foreign languages and cross-cultural understanding.

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Rationales, cont.

• Economic rationales: objectives relate to direct or long term economic benefits, e.g. institutional income, internationally qualified labour force, trade relations, international supply and demand for education, etc.

• Political rationales: objectives refer to issues such as security, stability and peace and ideological influence.

• Image rationales: Internationalisation of HEIs is seen as an attractivity factor

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Internationalization – definition components

Influences:• Political priorities• System of education• Geography/languages• Type of education/field

An international environment -An international university

International

networks

Research

Mobility of teachers and other

staff

Student mobility

Internat. programmes, Language, ”Area studies”

Curriculum development

Pedagogical development

Solidarity, development,

projects

Co-operation with surrounding

society

INFRASTRUCTURE

STRATEGY & POLICY

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An international strategy

• Must be in line with the overall strategy of the university and cannot therefore be copied

• Based on analysis of own situation – e.g. SWOT

• Mission – why do we want to do this?• Vision – where do we want to be in

3-5 years?• Objectives – what do we want to

achieve?– Long term– Short term– Measurable

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Strategy – how are we going to reach the objectives?

• Action plan– What activities do we plan?– When do they start and end?– Who is responsible?– Budget?– Quality assurance?

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Management process

• Analysis of external and internal situation

• Strategic choices (realistic goals, resources etc)

• Creating a system/structure for:– Information– Planning– Organising– Implementation

• Evaluation and follow up

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Levels in interaction

Central: Rectorate, IRO and other central offices,

Faculty/Area: Deans, Faculty IRO or int. coordinator, Intern. groups, centres

Department: Coordinators/teachers/student counsellors/administrators

Student

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Organisation, tools, . . .

• Courses in English• Infrastructure• Roles & responsibilities• Communication channels• Database• Course catalogues• Web page• Presentations/information materials

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Current issues

• The Bologna process• International magister-

masterprogrammes & Erasmus Mundus

• Integrated view on internationalization

• Revision of agreements• Improved co-ordination • Prioritizing

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To discuss

• What is internationalisation in your institution?

• What is your rationale for focusing on internationalisation?

• What challenges are you facing?• What will be the next step in the

change process?

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Analysis

• Mapping of:- Contacts- International experience (teaching,

communication/education…)- Arguments for internationalisation- Relation

centralisation/decentralisation- Legal framework- Other drivers

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What support can IRO provide?

• Education to staff– Internationalisation – i.e. workshops– Use of the database– How to deal with international agreements– Evaluation, i.e. STARS, etc

• Information about exchange programmes.– EU– Other

• Contacts• Tools, standard documents, information

materials, guides, etc• Networking• Strategic information seeking