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 -gt internationalisation moves
  to the centre of institutional strategy -gt 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)

1. Know why you are setting up the programme
2. Choose partners carefully
3. Develop programme goals desired learning
   outcomes with all partners
4. Ensure that institutions (not just academic
   colleagues) fully support programme
5. 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)