Internationalisation and joint programmes / degrees

1. Internationalisation and joint programmes / degrees David Crosier Eurydice World Bank Seminar 31 March 2009, Skopje

2. Presentation overview • What is internationalisation? • The rise of joint programmes / degrees • Opportunities, issues and questions for interested Macedonian universities

3. What is internationalisation? • Jane Knight: «The process of integrating an international dimension into the research, teaching and services function of higher education » • But what is an ‘international dimension’? (no shared concept)

4. A short history of internationalisation • Until 1980s: internationalisation = mobility (mainly from developing to developed countries) • Since 1987: Erasmus - short-term exchanges for an international experience • Establishment of institutional networks and recognition procedures, and attention to curriculum • 1990s pioneer joint programmes • Since 1999 - Bologna Process as a response to global developments -> internationalisation moves to the centre of institutional strategy -> rise of joint programmes • Boost from Erasmus Mundus (2004)

5. The rise of Joint Programmes • EUA Survey on Master Degrees and Joint Degrees in Europe, Christian Tauch and Andrejs Rauhvargers (Sept 2002) - legal recognition difficulties for joint degrees - Bilateral programmes more frequent than joint programmes - Joint programmes more common at Master and Doctoral levels - little information about the reality of joint programmes…

6. EUA Joint Masters project, 2003/4 • Focus on joint programmes to learn about “European dimension” in action • Improving inter-university cooperation through: • transparency and agreement on degree structures • student and professor mobility • joint curriculum development • proper use of ECTS • Language policy

7. Project Outcomes: Who benefits? • Students: expansion of minds & opportunities • Academics: development of research & teaching networks • Institutions: enhance reputation & institutional cooperation • Europe: respond to professional development needs; European citizenship & inter-cultural understanding; global recognition of European strengths

8. But challenges for Europe: definitions and structures • Variety of course structures – linked to subject/student numbers/research/institutional capacity/priorities etc - & no desire for standardisation • Profile of Master degrees (self-standing vs integrated; academic vs professional) • Recognition barriers – progress in European legislation, but national legislation barriers • Quality assurance for trans-national programmes

9. Challenges for Europe II: funding and compatibility • Incompatible national funding frameworks – tuition fees; portability of grants/loans; social security and pension transferability etc • Distribution of limited resources across institutions in differing socio-economic contexts • Programme sustainability and development in a competitive environment

10. Challenges for Europe III: academic coherence • Admission – variable entrance criteria? • Impact on research? (No assessment) • Language of instruction: is one language sufficient? • Common standards across institutions - ECTS not used consistently • Grading & assessment: difficult to coordinate • Diploma Supplement – not used

11. Challenges for Europe IV: access & elitism • Programmes tend to attract élite affluent students • Lack of support for non-traditional students – funding, child-care, needs of disabled etc • geographical exclusion : especially South East and Central and Eastern Europe • Mainstreaming joint programmes – need for institutional anchoring

12. Developments over the past 5 years • Dramatic increase in joint programmes since Erasmus Mundus • Improvement in national legislation to permit joint degrees (75% of Bologna countries say they have reviewed legislation to permit joint degrees) • But programmes generally have small number of students (24 average in DAAD survey) • European programmes for non Europeans? • Sustainability?

13. The future: Erasmus Mundus 2009 - 13 • New phase of Erasmus Mundus • Open to doctoral programmes as well as masters • Expectation for 2013: 150 Erasmus Mundus Masters Courses (EMMCs) + 35 Doctoral Programmes • + scholarships and fellowships etc • Open to Western Balkans – new opportunities

14. Yet questions remain • Greater funding incentives for institutions are required (EM not sufficient) • Additional support will be needed to stimulate development in Western Balkans • Need for targeted funding for students with low socio-economic status • Institutional policy/strategy – crucial dimension for long-term success

15. Questions for Macedonian HEIs • Who is the driver of the joint programme concept? (academics, international relations, external pressures/opportunities?) • What are the needs for joint programmes? • What are the criteria for partners? • How are the programmes to be funded? • Are the key academics fully committed? • Are the institutions fully committed? • How much mobility? How long? • How will quality be enhanced?

16. Considerations for new Joint Master Programmes (EUA Golden Rules) • Know why you are setting up the programme • Choose partners carefully • Develop programme goals & desired learning outcomes with all partners • Ensure that institutions (not just academic colleagues) fully support programme • Ensure sufficient academic & administrative staff resources are involved

17. Considerations for new Joint Master Programmes 6 Ensure that there is a sustainable funding strategy for network as a whole • Make sure information is easily accessible and reliable to all potential students • Organise sufficient planning meetings • Agree upon language policy, & encourage local language learning • Allocate responsibilities across the network in a clear & transparent manner

18. Essential reading… • EUA Guidelines for setting up and continually enhancing quality of joint programmes – EMNEM Guidelines • www.eua.be (under publications)