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Internationalization

Internationalization of higher education is an inevitable process in the era of globalization and a deliberate strategy for improving quality and relevance. IAU focuses on the academic rationales, the equitable and collaborative nature of the process and aims to minimize the adverse effects of international interactions when these take place in highly unequal and diverse contexts among HEIs with different, resources, needs and interests.

STRATEGIC GOAL

IAU aims at retaining a leadership role in HE Internationalization which focuses on quality of learning, research and outreach for all.

Overall objectives for 2016-2020:

  • Provide critical analysis of current trends
  • Research on global developments
  • Increase tailored advisory services
  • Expand IAU expertise in benchmarking and impact assessment
  • Provide information and develop global advocacy

ADVISORY SERVICES


DEFINITION OF INTERNATIONALIZATION

Over the years, the concept of internationalization has evolved and different definitions exist, IAU adopts the following: “[Internationalization of Higher Education is] 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. (Eds.) (2015) “Internationalization of Higher Education”, European Parliament, Brussels: EU).

This recently refined definition emphasizes the fact that internationalization is an intentional process, not a passive experience. It underscores that internationalization is not a goal in itself, but a means of enhancing quality and excellence of higher education and research. In addition, the definition notes that internationalization needs to serve societal needs, rather than focusing solely on economic rationales and returns. Although globalization affects all institutions, HEIs experience different pressures; they exist in different contexts, and have different needs. Therefore, there is no “one size fits all” model or approach for internationalization, rather, each HEI must find its own way of internationalizing. At the same time, all HEIs can benefit from the best thinking and good practice from other institutions around the world. This is why IAU developed the internationalization strategies advisory service: ISAS (2.0).


IAU PROGRAM OF ADVISORY SERVICES FOR ADVANCING INTERNATIONALIZATION


Launched in 2016, ISAS (2.0) builds on the former IAU ISAS program, created to help HEIs develop or review their internationalization policies, strategies and programs. ISAS (2.0) consists of several different but complementary services designed for Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), individuals at HEIs, national governments andorganizations.

It consists of three services:
- Advancing strategic internationalization at HEIs (for HEIs)
- Facilitating individual learning for internationalization for HEIs and individuals working at HEIs. (for HEIs and individuals at HEIs)
- National advisory service for strategy or policy development for HE internationalization (for national governments, agencies and organizations)

ISAS (2.0) promotional leaflet

List of past and ongoing ISAS 2.0 projects

Giorgio Marinoni

>>> ADVANCING STRATEGIC INTERNATIONALIZATION AT HEIs
There are 4 strands of service designed specifically for HEIs.. The duration of each strand of service depends on the specific needs of the HEIs but typically is between 6 and 12 months. Each strand culminates with the award of an IAU internationalization learning badge. Institutions awarded an IAU internationalization learning badge must follow the guidelines for use.

Planning and Strategy

Target audience
Higher Education Institutions at early development stage of internationalization

Goal
Help the institution develop and/or refine its internationalization strategy.

Process

  • Mapping and reviewing internationalization policies and actions at the institution
  • Developing or revising the internationalization strategy
  • IAU Learning Badge rewarded: Planning and Strategy

Detailed procedure

Fees

HEI Low income country Middle income country High income country
IAU member 18 000 euros 20 000 euros 22 000 euros
Non-IAU member 20 000 euros 23 000 euros 25 000 euros

Assessing Strategy and Monitoring Achievements

Target audience
HEIs having an already implemented internationalization strategy

Goal
Help the institution assess its strategy for internationalization and their monitoring achievements and progress towards the goals outlined in its internationalization strategy.

Process

  • Evaluating the institutional strategy and reviewing of monitoring framework
  • Monitoring progress
  • IAU Learning Badge rewarded : Strategy Monitoring and Achievements

Detailed procedure

Fees

HEI Low income country Middle income country High income country
IAU member 18 000 euros 20 000 euros 22 000 euros
Non-IAU member 20 000 euros 23 000 euros 25 000 euros

Enhancing a specific area of internationalization

Target audience
Higher Education Institutions interested in a specific area of internationalization


Goal
Enabling institutions to focus on a particular area of internationalization requiring special enhancing and monitoring efforts including:
- Governance and management structures for internationalization;
- Internationalization at home;
- Internationalization of research;
- Internationalization of the curriculum;
- Language policy;
- Strategic partnerships;
- Academic and non-academic staff mobility;
- Student mobility;
- Transnational/cross border education;
- On-line and distance learning.

Process

  • Reviewing fitness of purpose of specific goals and objectives for the area of focus within the overall institutional context
  • Assessing the implementation strategies adopted and pursued to achieve objectives
  • Providing recommendations for developing new activities in the specific area
  • Reviewing and/or developing indicators for evaluating progress
  • Evaluating achievement
  • IAU Learning Badges rewarded: Governance or Internationalization at home or Curriculum, Language policy, Strategic partnership, Staff mobility, Student mobility, Distance learning, Research

Detailed procedure

Fees

HEI Low income country Middle income country High income country
IAU member 10 000 euros 12 000 euros 14 000 euros
Non-IAU member 12 000 euros 14 000 euros 16 000 euros

Achieving comprehensive internationalisation

Comprehensive Internationalization is increasingly the goal of many institutions that have emphasized internationalization for some time and have devoted particular attention and resources to developing a comprehensive approach within their institution.
This strand of service is highly selective, not all institutions that would wish to choose this strand might be ready for it.

Target audience
Higher Education Institutions at advanced development stage of internationalization

Goal
Assess to what extent the HEI is achieving Comprehensive Internationalization

Process

  • Submission of an application by the institution
  • IAU submission evaluation: decision on acceptance or suggestion to undertake another strand of service of ISAS (2.0)
  • Asses to what extent the HEI is achieving Comprehensive Internationalization, that is, looking at the extent to which internationalization is pervasive throughout the institution.
  • IAU Learning Badge rewarded: Comprehensive Internationalization

Detailed procedure

Fees

HEI Low income country Middle income country High income country
IAU member 22 000 euros 24 000 euros 26 000 euros
Non-IAU member 28 000 euros 30 000 euros 32 000 euros


>>> FACILITATING INDIVIDUAL LEARNING FOR INTERNATIONALIZATION FOR HEIS AND INDIVIDUALS WORKING AT HEIs
One of the major institutional obstacles to internationalization is the limited expertise of academic and administrative staff working at HEIs. IAU has therefore developed this service, intended for individuals and groups of individuals at one or more HEIs wishing to improve their knowledge, skills and competences related to strategic planning and monitoring of internationalization of higher education. It consists of two main strands of service:

Training workshops for professional development of senior academic and administrative staff

Target audience
Higher Education Institutions (or groups of HEIs)
Goal:
Enhance staff development to allow them to gain expertise in internationalization process.

Duration: 2-3 days

Process

  • Request for workshop by an HEI, National rectors’ conferences, national university associations or networks.
  • Tailored-made peer-to-peer workshop by IAU
  • IAU charges to the host institution an all-inclusive fee for the workshop design.
  • Host institution is responsible for the logistics related costs and can charge fees to workshop participants, which must be agreed upon by IAU

Detailed procedure

Fees
Fees will be negotiated with the host institution on a case-by-case basis.

Webinars on specific topics on internationalization for academic and administrative staff

IAU aims to expand the range of learning opportunities available to individuals, and to offer to all individuals at HEIs the opportunity to access its programs.

The first ever ISAS (2.0) webinar will focus on ‘Developing a Strategic Approach to Internationalization’. The speakers will include IAU’s Manager of Internationalization Giorgio Marinoni, the former Secretary General Eva Egron-Polak and Madeleine F.Green, IAU’s former board member and the former Vice President for International Initiatives at the American Council on Education. Participants will be given access to all materials used during the presentation and the opportunity to ask questions live to the speakers. The webinars will be available in English and French.

When
The first seminar in English will take place on 4 October at 17:00 CET and be broadcast again on 9 October at 9:00 CET to enable participants from other time zones to take part.

Who Should Apply
Individuals at HEIs

Why
■ Learn about developing a strategic approach to internationalization
■ Engage with top experts in the field
■ Share your insights with peers from other countries

How
Spaces are limited! Apply now by filling out a google form!

Fees
Free for both IAU Members and non-IAU members



>>> NATIONAL ADVISORY SERVICE FOR STRATEGY OR POLICY DEVELOPMENT OF HE INTERNATIONALIZATION FOR NATIONAL GOVERNMENTS, AGENCIES AND ORGANIZATIONS


Higher education has become a high-level priority for more and more national governments, some of which have adopted national strategies for internationalization or plan to develop one. IAU has gained significant experience in helping national governments and organizations in the development of national strategies and policies for internationalization (e.g Romania, Malaysia).

Tailored approach at national level

Target audience
National governments, governmental agencies and organizations

Goals
Provide international expertise to assist the government (or governmental organization) in developing a proposal for a national strategy

Process
The approach is tailored to the specific needs of the country. It can focus exclusively on the national policy level, with IAU providing international experts to assist the government or governmental organization in developing a proposal for a national strategy.

Detailed procedure

Fee
Fees are agreed upon on a case by case basis

’Bottom-up’ approach

Target audience
National governments, governmental agencies and organizations

Goals
Provide international expertise to assist the government (or governmental organization) in developing a proposal for a national strategy

Process
The process of designing or revising a national policy can also involve working ’bottom-up’, meaning working at the same time at governmental and institutional levels. It consists in assisting a group of HEIs in revising and developing their institutional internationalization strategies while helping the government or governmental organization developing a proposal for a national strategy. This simultaneous process ensure that national policy recommendations are based on a understanding of HEIs needs and visions.

Detailed procedure

Fee
Fees are agreed upon on a case by as basis.



THE GLOBAL SURVEY

GLOBAL SURVEYS ON INTERNATIONALIZATION OF HIGHER EDUCATION
Since 2003, IAU has conducted Global Surveys on Internationalization of Higher Education. Each IAU global survey report provides a unique analysis of global and regional level data on trends and developments in the field of international higher education and related policymaking. The Global Survey reports have become a invaluable resource for anyone working on or interested in internationalization of higher education.

>> 5th EDITION OF THE GLOBAL SURVEY
An Advisory Committee of 21 international internationalization experts assisted IAU in the elaboration of the 5th edition of the Global Survey on Internationalization of Higher Education. The Committee redesigned the questionnaire to collect most relevant data from higher education institutions and IAU has now launched its 5th Global Survey.

Read the instructions to complete the Survey in:

All Higher education institutions are invited to take the 5th Global Survey, which questionnaire is available online in ENGLISH, FRENCH and SPANISH.

Should you wish to preview the questions, you can download a PDF version of the questionnaire.

THREE GOOD REASONS TO TAKE THE SURVEY
TO (RE)ASSESS YOUR CURRENT PROCESSES

Responding to the survey requires gathering data on your current internationalization policies and actions and reflecting on the purposes, areas of focus, strengths and resources associated with internationalization at your institution. This kind of evaluation process provides a perfect opportunity to get a clear picture of your internationalization activities, which eventually informs a strategic reflection for future developments.		 TO BUILD SYNERGIES AMONG ALL STAKEHOLDERS

Such a review of your institutional policies and activities will bring together all those involved in the overall internationalization processes, thus building new internal synergies between all stakeholders: academic leadership, members of the international office or any other office involved in international affairs (admission, student service, research), academics involved in international cooperation, local and international students, etc.		 TO REFINE YOUR STRATEGIC POSITIONING

The IAU Global Surveys have become an invaluable resource for anyone interested in internationalization of higher education. This edition will also provide useful data for you to benchmark your processes against the others and develop new and innovative strategies.The more responses we collect internationally, the better picture of the global higher education landscape we will be able to draw up and share broadly.

>> TAKE THE SURVEY



THEY SUPPORT US
The sponsoring partners of the 5th edition of the Global Survey on Internationalization of Higher Education are:




FORMER EDITIONS OF THE GOBAL SURVEY

- 4th Global Survey (2014) - IAU 4th Global Survey on Internationalization of Higher Education. Executive Summary
- IAU 3rd Global Survey (2010) - Internationalization of Higher Education: Global Trends, Regional Perspectives Executive Summary
- IAU 2nd Global Survey (2005) - Internationalization of Higher Education - New Directions, New Challenges. Highlights of findings
- IAU 1st Global Survey (2003) - Internationalization of Higher Education: Practices and Priorities Highlights of findings

Giorgio Marinoni

ADVOCACY & EXPERTISE

POLICY STATEMENTS
IAU has developed advocacy positions on internationalization of higher education:


IAU WORKING GROUP
This Working Group encompasses a small group of Administrative Board members. It provides advice to the Administrative Board and the Secretary General on the strategic direction. The Working Group develops recommendations on how to improve the visibility and response rate and dissemination of the IAU Global Survey. The Working Group also provides recommendations on how to operationalize the Call for Action: Affirming Academic Values in Internationalization of Higher Education. Finally, it assists in the promotion of the IAU Internationalization Strategies Advisory Service (ISAS (2.0)).

Chair:

  • Andrew Deeks, President, University College Dublin, Ireland

Members:

IAU Secretariat Staff:



Giorgio Marinoni

NGO in official partnership with UNESCO in associate status
International Association of Universities, UNESCO House, 1 rue Miollis, 75732 Paris cedex 15, France
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