Internationalisation: establishing a collective understanding of the issuesKevin Thomas

Northumbria University 22 May 2012

Introduction – outline of a definition of internationalisation and institutional rationales (5 mins)

Group exercise (40 mins)

Plenary and discussion (15 mins)

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Session plan

Different things to different people and different things to different institutions

Needs to embrace;

•Wider institution

•Not just academic staff

•All students

•Culture

•Globalisation

•Usefulness- education, skills

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Outline of a definition

How an institution approaches and operationalises internationalisation will be influenced by the rationale(s) motivating it;

Political

Foreign policy, national security, peace and mutual understanding, national identity, regional identity

Economic

Economic growth and competitiveness, labour market, financial incentives, income generation

Academic

International dimension to research and teaching, extension of academic horizons, institution-building, profile and status, enhancement of quality and curriculum development, international academic standards, research collaborations

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Rationales for internationalisation

Developmental

Student and staff development, institutional learning and exchange, capacity building, technical assistance

Social and cultural

National cultural identity, intercultural understanding, citizenship development, social and community development

Competitive

International branding and positioning, strategic alliances, knowledge production, knowledge transfer

(Middlehurst & Woodfield, 2007, p 31)

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Rationales cont.

Working in small groups consider

1.Your definitions/views of internationalisation

2.The rationale(s) motivating your institution

3.What are the internal “enablers” to internationalisation?

4.What are the main internal “barriers” restricting/preventing internationalisation at your institution

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Group exercise

‘Internationalisation 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 post-secondary education and it should aim to create values, beliefs and intellectual insight in which both domestic and international students and staff participate and benefit equally. It should develop global perspectives, international and cultural and ethical sensitivity and useful knowledge, skills and attitudes for the globalised market place’.

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A definition…

Resourcing

Institutional links

Internationally focused curriculum

Student recruitment (UG and PG)

Staff and student exchange

Staff interaction in internationalisation

Senior management support and leadership

Research collaborations

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ENABLERS

Resourcing

Internationalisation at home

Internationally focused curriculum

Use of a strategy and monitoring

Staff and student mobility

Staff interaction in internationalisation

Senior management support and leadership

Communication and clarification

Complicated and over-bureaucratic procedures

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BARRIERS

de Wit, H. (1995). Strategies for Internationalization of Higher Education: a comparative study of Australia, Canada, Europe and the United States of America. Amsterdam: European Association for International Education.

Elkin, G., Devjee, F., & Farnsworth, J. (2005). Visualising the "internationalisation" of universities. International Journal of Educational Development, 19(4), 318-329. Retrieved from www.emeraldinsight.com

Knight, J. (1997). Internationalization of higher education: a conceptual framework. In J. Knight & H. deWitt (Eds.), Internationalization of Higher Education in Asia Pacific Countries (pp. 5-19). Amsterdam: EAIE.

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References

Knight, J. (2003). Updating the Definition of Internationalisation. International Higher Education, 33(Fall), 2-3. Retrieved from http://www.bc.edu/bc

Middlehurst, R., & Woodfield, S. (2007). Responding to the internationalisation agenda: implications for institutional strategy: Higher Education Academy.

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