Internationalization of Higher Education – Global and Regional Trends and Impacts Eva Egron-Polak Secretary General, IAU Race to Globalize Higher Education, OCUFA, Toronto, Canada, January 2011

© IAU – January Presentation Outline IAU and Internationalization Definitions, Concepts and Meanings Forces for institutional and systemic internationalization (or globalization?) A few findings of 3 rd IAU Global Survey –Rationales, drivers, importance, activities in theory and in HEI practice, priorities –Obstacles and risks Conclusions and Policy challenges

© IAU – January IAU and Internationalization Unique global membership organization; a forum for HEIs for: Advocacy, Networking, Research, Information Sharing and Services 2 Policy Statements on Internationalization: to promote key principles; celebrate diversity and acknowledge complexity of the process 2000 with focus on cooperation and partnership 2004 with focus on ethical conduct in cross border education 3 Global Surveys: 2003, 2005 and 2010 Launched in 2010: Internationalization StrategiesAdvisory Service (ISAS)

© IAU – January Definitions Internationalization of Higher Education has numerous definitions IAU adopts Knight and de Wit definition: A multifaceted process of introducing international and intercultural dimension in to teaching, learning, research and mode of delivery of higher education. Implementation often strays from this definition. Can a single definition integrate all approaches now taken under guise of Internationalization or are we Racing to Globalize Higher Education?

© IAU – January Multiple and Interwoven Concepts Internationalization Globalization Regionalization Academic Mobility and Study Abroad Cross Border Education and Providers Trade in Higher Education Services International Development and Capacity Building

© IAU – January Internationalization = Multiple Meanings in Practice Teaching – curriculum, competencies, area studies, languages, student/faculty mobility, joint/dual degrees, etc. Collaborative research – joint projects and publications, international field work, shared laboratories, mobility of researchers, etc. Development cooperation – human resource development projects, capacity building networks and partnerships, program development and delivery Cross border delivery - offshore programs/institutions; new HE providers, distance education, online delivery, etc. Institutional management - student services, HR policy, marketing and recruitment etc. Quality Assurance – regional cooperation among agencies, European Quality Assurance Register, etc.

© IAU – January Forces pushing HEIs and Systems to Internationalize Economic: development, competitiveness, growth; HE and Research as essential building blocks for innovation; critical mass of qualified people needed for international business, Political: soft power, influence, regional integration, harmonisation, avoid conflict and war Commercial: replacing public funds; HE as an export industry; (demographic) mismatch of HE supply/capacity and demand between different nations, Competition: rankings, comparisons, prestige and reputation race Cultural: diversity of viewpoints, inter-cultural understanding Academic/Scientific: enriching, expanding knowledge and improving learning experience, gaining access to labs, sharing resources and expertise, building critical mass.

© IAU – January IAU 3 rd Global Survey On Internationalization International Task Force to redesign questionnaires – HEIs and Associations Available online in 5 languages Largest sample yet –745 HEIs; in 115 countries –18 national associations of universities Data collected for academic year 2009 Report published in September 2010

© IAU – January HEI Rationales for Internationalization (N=745)

© IAU – January 2011 Internal and External Drivers of Internationalization 10

© IAU – January Importance assigned by HEIs to Internationalization (N=745) 11

© IAU – January Senior Level Commitment

© IAU – January Policy and Infrastructural Support

© IAU – January Top 5 Activities = Focus on Mobility

© IAU – January Actual Student Mobility is Low HEIs according to # of international students as % of total enrolment N=745 Undergraduate level Post-graduate level 15

© IAU – January Opportunity to Study Outside One’s Own Country as % of overall enrolment N=745 Undergraduate studentsPost-graduate students 16

© IAU – January 2011 Major Imbalances in Student Mobility , OECD Education database, table prepared by Dirk Van Damme, CERI,

© IAU – January 2011 Shifting Terrain for 3.3 Million ‘Mobile’ Students 18 Source: Education at a Glance, 2010, OECD

© IAU – January Geographic Priorities in Internationalization Region Geographic priority attributed to: AfricaAsia and Pacific EuropeLatin America & Caribbean Middle EastNorth America Africa1 Asia and Pacific Europe Latin America & Caribbean 2 Middle East 2 North America 3 32 No geographic priority 3 32

© IAU – January Obstacles to Internationalization

© IAU – January Funding by Source and Region

© IAU – January Highest Ranked Risks by Region Risks of InternationalizationWorld Africa Asia & Pacific Europe LA&C Middle East North America Commodification and commercialization Brain drain Increase in foreign degree mills Over-emphasis on internationalization Elitism in access to int’l education opportunities Loss of cultural identity Greater competition among HEIs Over-emphasis on recruitment of fee paying int’l students None No reply

© IAU – January 2011 Conclusions and Key Challenges One Option: Let you draw your own Challenges are as diverse as contexts Globally, playing field is highly uneven Critical analysis, based on multiple perspectives, is needed to reposition internationalization anew, perhaps as: Neither Aid nor Trade but Exchange and Sharing and a path to Quality 23

© IAU – January 2011 Conclusions & Key Challenges Internationalization important and changing process, increasingly focused on students (in industrialized nations) Mobility remains a defining feature, yet relatively low; costly, thus vulnerable during economic crisis Focus on students/curriculum; yet Faculty perceived as both obstacle & driver! Old obstacles persist: difficulties in recognition; visa restrictions, lack of funding 24

© IAU – January 2011 Conclusions and Key Challenges Strategies to mobilize, prepare and reward faculty, staff and students are required Need to respect diverse interests of partners in designing international strategies Partnering with HEIs in all world regions, neglecting some is a risk for all Implementation of full spectrum of internationalization in ways that Minimize Risks such as Brain Drain and Commercialization while finding ways to make benefits accessible to all 25

© IAU – January 2011 Thank You for Listening Report AvailableIAU Statements and Info: 4 th Global Meeting of Associations (April, India) Internationalization of HE OCUFA welcome! 26