INTERNATIONALIZATION OF HIGHER EDUCATION THE IMPORTANCE OF STRATEGY

Transcription

1 INTERNATIONALIZATION OF HIGHER EDUCATION THE IMPORTANCE OF STRATEGY Eva Egron-Polak, Senior Fellow and former Secretary General, IAU Stockholm, 24 October 2017

2 PRESENTATION OUTLINE Importance of higher education internationalization Contexts matters Goals, rationales, expectations and means Importance of strategy Getting the right balance Key considerations for national strategy What does an internationalized HEI look like? Concluding thoughts 10/24/2017 2

3 GROWTH OF IMPORTANCE OF INTERNATIONALIZATION Source: IAU Global Survey, /24/2017 3

4 CONTEXT MATTERS National, regional, and institutional context in terms of: economic, social and cultural development language (s) level of openness and historical tradition of collaboration and international mobility view of ethnic and religious diversity and multiculturalism population and demographic trends Level of democracy, rule of law institutional size and role within HE system Institutional capacity, contributions locally, nationally VALUES and ETHOS In internationalization, not only one s context but partners context as well needs to determine actions 10/24/2017 4

5 CONTEXT MATTERS BUT MUCH POLICY MIMICRY Globalization, by exposing all to similar trends, drives policy makers towards similar conclusions: Economic competitiveness is the goal knowledge and higher education are key Innovations is driven by STEM more emphasis on these disciplines Demographic decline (in most developed nations) international student recruitment is the answer Success in the global talent race is a must must have highly-ranked institutions of higher education and policies to ease work after study Less public funding for higher education introduce tuition fees, demand more entrepreneurial activity, concentrate funding More ethnic diversity at home - internationalization can prepare for better cohesion and integration in context of multiculturalism HE Internationalization, often seen as a response to these challenges and as a positive trend, hence recent revival of attention to national level policy making Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, UK, Romania, Australia, Canada, South Africa, Malaysia, Colombia and many others either developing or revising strategies usually quite similar in nature and goals. (EU Parliament study on internationalization 2015) 10/24/2017 5

6 STINT 2012 FRAMEWORK TO CATEGORIZE ACADEMIC RATIONALES FOR INTERNATIONALIZATION Enhancement of quality Student and staff development International dimension to research and teaching Extension of academic horizon International academic standards and quality assurance Knowledge production Service/third mission Innovation Grand challenges Economic growth and competitiveness Labour market Political Social/cultural Overarching and enabling Institution building International branding, profile and status Alternative income generation 10/24/2017 6

7 GOALS, RATIONALES, EXPECTATIONS Institutional A lever to achieve vision and plan Quality of learning and research New perspectives, better understanding of self, by understanding the others Graduate preparation for current and future realities Access to research partners, infrastructure and resources Top expected benefits - IAU Global Survey 2014: Increased international awareness of students Improved quality of teaching and learning Strengthened research and knowledge production capacity But not identical in all parts of the world or even in all HEIs National Strategic trade partnerships Geopolitical positioning in the region or world Lever for improving competitiveness in the Knowledge Economy Human resource development and global talent race Growing and building capacity in education and research Influence soft diplomacy and promotion of values (democracy, rule of law, good governance, etc.) Peace building and security Response to Grand Challenges But not identical in all parts of the world or even within regions 10/24/2017 7

8 THE IMPORTANCE OF STRATEGY A shared understanding of the desired future Collective and consultative process of charting the path A way to make choices among competing alternatives Means to obtain and align resources to achieve goals (human resources and competencies, supporting policies and funds) Agreement on a framework to assess success and identify additional requirements to succeed Possibility to incentivize and reward 10/24/2017 8

9 MAIN EXTERNAL DRIVERS OF HEI INTERNATIONALIZATION Source: IAU Global Survey, /24/2017 9

10 NATIONAL AND HEI INTERNATIONALIZATION STRATEGY - GETTING THE BALANCE RIGHT National strategy is helpful, if respectful of institutional autonomy Recall To meet the needs of the world around it, its research and teaching must be morally and intellectually independent of all political authority and economic power MCU. At both levels, strategy must be negotiated, and ideally, the two should be mutually reinforcing In each case strategy is part of larger plan - National (Regional) Plan and Institutional Strategy must be aligned with and supportive of these Each must recognize the different time-frame proper to the other National HE internationalization strategy should offer a spring-board for HEIs, not a straight jacket. 10/24/

11 KEY CONSIDERATIONS FOR NATIONAL STRATEGIES A strategy for HE internationalization is desirable in the following circumstances: When insufficient attention is paid to this dimension of higher education by HEIs When too many structural obstacles are encountered by institutions (visa, funding, regulations etc.,) that wish to be engaged in internationalization When the free-market is setting an international HE agenda in contradiction with the values and interests of the country and its HEIs When government coordinated action is required to reach objectives To avoid undue competition among HEIs by facilitating collective actions to support HEIs active engagement when intergovernmental agencies set a global agenda (SDGs for example) When coherence among different national agendas and collaboration among the various ministries education, immigration, foreign affairs, development assistance, industry and employment, environment, health and welfare etc., are needed. 10/24/

12 KEY CONSIDERATIONS FOR NATIONAL STRATEGIES A HE internationalization strategy is less desirable when it is characterized by the following: Rigidity and limits in choice of country/regional priorities Narrow and exclusively quantitative set of key performance indicators that ALL HEIs need to adhere to Priority goals or actions that run counter to the values and ethos the nation is known for internationally A short-term time horizon and built in instability Similarity of approach and targets adopted by many other countries Lack of commitment of financial supports and incentives related to implementation Insufficient recognition that internationalization is a matter of people and context before being a strategy Sustainable delivery on national strategy by the HEIs depends on the extent to which there is alignment between its goals and those of institutions and there are resources available to support action. 10/24/

13 WHAT DOES AN INTERNATIONALIZED HEI LOOK LIKE? Many models and approaches but need some fundamentals too: Appreciation of diversity students, perspectives, languages, activities, disciplines, partners, countries Attention to home students and their international learning experience Tie to local communities as much as to the global talent race, care for migrants and refugees Respect of different partners needs, despite own goals in terms of both education and research Focusing on qualitative impact not only from an economic/employability perspective but also the social responsibility to address main global challenges facing humanity (SDG Agenda 2030) Retaining academic values as central considerations 10/24/

14 INTERNATIONALIZATION RECOGNIZED AS A MEANS TO AN END, NOT AN END ITSELF The intentional process of integrating an international, intercultural or global dimension into the purpose, functions and delivery of post-secondary education, in order to enhance the quality of education and research for all students and staff, and to make a meaningful contribution to society. (De Wit, H. Hunter, F., Howard, L. Egron-Polak, E., 2015) Internationalization is not something we do; it is what we are (Linnaeus University ) 10/24/

15 TIME TO REVISE MATRIX AND FRAMEWORKS USED TO DETERMINE LEVEL OF INTERNATIONALIZATION? Too often indicators (for example STINT) are exclusively quantitative: Research number of co-publications Students mobility numbers PhD student numbers Education English language taught courses Faculty number with PhDs from abroad, with research abroad experience Leadership number with PhD from abroad and research experience abroad Need to find ways to track: Curricular change to introduce international dimension Impact on learning and on research Diversity among international students Student satisfaction with welcome Change in attitudes 10/24/

16 SO MUCH TO BUILD ON Sweden s reputation abroad is stellar cited as an example of higher education as a public good Sweden s development policy includes support for capacity building in research unique among development agencies Sweden viewed as a safe and caring nation No doubts about quality of HE in Sweden Relatively high level of public investment including in HE internationalization HEIs have internationalization policies in place and wide outreach in Europe, NA but also in less often targeted parts of the globe (Africa for ex.) No colonial past or related baggage Etc., etc. 10/24/

17 CONCLUDING THOUGHTS Should we once again re-think HE internationalization? Still about knowledge creation, dissemination and sharing? Still about learning together to live together or about market share and winning? Still about a welcoming atmosphere where lasting connections among people (not just the star alumni) are built Its primary goals shift over time at present, HEIs must act as safe spaces for all to question, and engage in critical analysis from diverse perspectives and to prepare graduates with the will and appreciation to do this throughout life Still about values that protect society from racism, nationalism, hate and xenophobia Here the national agenda and the university agenda meet easily and so provide a basis for sound mutually reinforcing strategies and efforts. 10/24/

18 THANK YOU FOR LISTENING To contact me: 10/24/