Internationalisation: establishing a collective understanding of the issues

1. Internationalisation: establishing a collective understanding of the issues • Kevin Thomas • Northumbria University • 22 May 2012

2. Session plan Introduction – outline of a definition of internationalisation and institutional rationales (5 mins) Group exercise (40 mins) Plenary and discussion (15 mins)

3. Outline of a definition 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

4. Rationales for internationalisation 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

5. Rationales cont. 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)

6. Group exercise Working in small groups consider • Your definitions/views of internationalisation • The rationale(s) motivating your institution • What are the internal “enablers” to internationalisation? • What are the main internal “barriers” restricting/preventing internationalisation at your institution

7. A definition… ‘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’.

8. ENABLERS 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

9. BARRIERS 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

10. References 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.

11. 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.