INTERNATIONALISATION OPPORTUNITIES AND PITALLS

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INTERNATIONALISATIONOPPORTUNITIES AND PITALLS

• Dr Geoffrey Copland
• formerly
• Rector
• University of Westminster
• London

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INTERNATIONALISATION

• Internationalisation is the process of
  integrating an international/inter-cultural
  dimension into the teaching, research and
  services functions of the institution
• Jane Knight (1994)
• Internationalisation elements and checkpoints.
• Canadian Bureau for International Education
  Ottawa.

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Government Needs

• Return from investment in universities
• Enhanced impact on global society
• Contribute to Millennium Goals (if they remember
  them)
• Universities to be at forefront of new thinking
• Economic benefits from skilled graduates and
  research and knowledge transfer
• International economic and political
  competitiveness

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Motivation for universities

• Idealism global citizens, help disadvantaged
  countries
• Intellectual challenge
• Research opportunities
• Reputation
• Sustaining low demand programmes
• International talent
• Money

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What does internationalisation mean?

• Diverse home student population
• Diverse international student population
• International staff
• Global issues incorporated into curriculum
• Integrated supportive student environment and
  services including Students Union
• Active international research partnerships

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What does internationalisation mean?

• Actively managed international partnerships
• Active promotion of study abroad
• Supportive quality assurance arrangements
• Strong international scholarship programme
• Active international student support language,
  study methods, protocols
• University engaged in off-shore developments

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International Development Activity

• Key aspect for internationalisation agenda
• Active exchange partnerships
• Creating opportunities for students
• Benefits to staff involved
• New institutional development and capacity
  building
• University of Westminster experience

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International Development

• Capability building with trans-national education
• Build new institutions
• Develop curriculum, staff, resources
• Quality assurance, degree validation
• Joint research and teaching programmes
• Assess and manage risks
• Not every project works
• No early and easy financial profit

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Necessary Characteristics

• Strong, demonstrable commitment from top
• Bottom-up staff commitment-embrace diversity,
  belief in ideas
• Appetite for assessed risks
• Encouragement of students to engage (SU)
• Staff active in international partnerships
• Internationalisation support by all staff
• International curriculum

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Potential problems and pitfalls

• Lack of vision and core staff engagement
• Lack of time for staff to deal with unfamiliar
  students
• Misunderstanding of reality eg
• Timescales, costs
• Linguistic and Cultural differences
• Quality of programmes and delivery
• Government interference and political change

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Issues

• Evidence for social class and ethnic divide in
  international participation
• Problems for home students with families and
  financial constraints
• Restricted work experience opportunities
• Part-time jobs
• Erasmus/Socrates type support

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Access policies for international students

• Difficult for high fee and cost of living
  countries eg UK
• Educational disadvantage difficult to overcome
  internationally
• Confidence raising
• Scholarship support
• Visa and immigration rules, including work
  opportunities

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Benefits

• Opening up opportunities for students otherwise
  not available
• Taking international university experience to
  those who cannot afford to travel
• Creation of wider global community with diverse
  experience
• Breaking down barriers and ignorance
• Making the world a better, safer place