Internationalisation Academic tourism or a strategy for quality? Eva Åkesson 1
Perspectives on internationalisation National Bologna expert External Quality Assurance Institutional Education Internal Quality Assurance Bologna process 2
Why Internationalisation? Högskolelag - Higher Education Act Högskolorna bör vidare i sin verksamhet främja förståelsen för andra länder och för internationella förhållanden. 3
Why Internationalisation? Mål: Internationalisering Universitet och högskolor ska bedriva ett aktivt internationaliseringsarbete i syfte att främja utbildningens och forskningens kvalitet samt förståelsen för andra länder och för internationella förhållanden. Lärosätena ska utveckla sin uppföljning av internationaliseringsarbetet. Den internationella rörligheten avseende lärare och studenter, särskilt inom lärarutbildningen, ska öka. 4
Why Internationalisation? SUHF Sveriges universitets och högskoleförbund Högskolor ska vara internationella miljöer All verksamhet bedrivs med internationell öppenhet och ska härigenom främja fredlig samverkan över kulturella och nationella gränser Global student- student och forskarrörlighet medverkar till samhällets globalisering 5
Internationalisering globalisation of higher education Market driven Competition Ranking International networks U21, LERU Higher/more expectations 6
Driving forces for internationalisation Both internal and external Legal framework In the University mission Lack of national students Increase funding Perserve areas of influences EHEA European Higher Education Area 7
Internationalisation academic tourism? Internationalisation often mobility! Evalution results: Students own intitiative Often a positive experience Not added value to the degree Employability +/- Low teacher mobility Quantity - not quality measured and valued Not a strategy for quality enhancement Not integrated 8
Bologna process - EHEA Europe's attractiveness in HE Mobility Employability Learning outcomes Life long learning Quality assurance Joint programmes External dimension 9
New world new University 1st of July 2007 News in the Higher Education Act and Higher Education Ordinance. Three cycles: undergraduate level, graduate level postgraduate level. New two-year master s degree New descriptions for all degrees ; Learning outcomes Qualitative measure instead of only quantitative Exact credits for degrees Diploma work, independent work for all degrees credit system compatible with ECTS 60 higher education credits. 10
The Bologna process opened up many opportunities! Renew the curricilum Enhance employability Improve quality Joint programmes Cross disciplinary Lunds University is using the Bolognaprocessen to perform a quality reform with student learning in focus 11
Strategic plan of Lund University 2007 2011 VISION Lund University shall stand among the very best of European universities. Four strategies: Quality assurance Cross-disciplinary collaboration Internationalization Leader, teacher and employee excellence 12
Strategy: Quality assurance in education Quality assurance in a European perspective Validation of new study programmes Quality assurance of courses Quality assurance of degrees Quality assurance of internationalization 13
Some questions. In what respects is the quality in the students degrees affected when part of the education is located to an international university? In which ways are quality of education assured at the international universities included in the exchange programmes of Lund University? In which ways are the students trained so that they in the future are able to work on an international labour market? What is the employability of students graduating from Lund University on the international labour market? What are the capabilities at Lund University to develop top-quality study programmes with high international competitive power and visibility, either alone or in cooperation with other Swedish or international universities? 14
Policy för internationalisering vid Lunds universitet 2008-2011 Det är viktigt att betona att internationalisering är en strategi för universitetet att uppnå högsta kvalitet och inte ett mål i sig. Internationaliseringsarbetet under perioden 2008 2011 innebär en integration av en internationell dimension i all verksamhet snarare än en expansion av program och kurser för enbart internationella studenter. 15
Målsättningar för internationaliseringsarbetet I. Lunds universitet ska vara en internationell miljö och internationella perspektiv ska integreras i all utbildning, forskning och i alla administrativa stödprocesser vid universitetet. II. Långsiktiga relationer ska prioriteras. Strategiska nätverk och avtal om internationellt samarbete kan finnas på alla nivåer inom universitetet. Universitetet ska aktivt sträva mot att avtal om samarbete fördjupas och utvidgas till att omfatta utbildning, forskning och administration. III. Internationaliseringsarbetet ska kontinuerligt följas upp och kvalitetssäkras. Rutiner för uppföljning och kvalitetssäkring ska utvecklas och etableras samt mätbara mål fastställas. 16
Quality assurance of internationalisation Make priorities among our international collaboration agreements Smaller number of more intense long-term relationships: Universitas 21, League of European Research Universities Öresund University Quality not quantity! 17
Examples: Integrated internationalisation Joint programs Internet based education Integrated (mandatory) mobility for students and teachers EMECW, Erasmus Mundus External Cooporation Window Cross disciplinary collaboration Integrated in curriculum Pedagogy How to teach trough English Heterogeneous groups Continuous international recruitment 18
Why joint programmes? Quality improvement Enhanced collaboration Increased critical mass Create unique programmes Status Improve educational profile and global visability Increase in attractiveness for students Means to reach the overall goals within the Bologna process Strengthen the international dimension Erasmus Mundus, Nordic Master 19
What makes a joint different or special? An integrated program Delivered and enhanced by different context Not academic tourism nor a pick and mix Variety of forms All students study the same program in two or more places Core studies in one place an optional in different places 20
Advantages of joint Masters/PhDs for students Increase in number and diversity of educational programs Increase in vertical mobility Higher quality Getting better qualifications for labour market/research market International network 21
Lots of Challenges Academic calendar Short-term accommodation Clear information Common understanding of admission requirements & procedures Visa requirements Time for curriculum planning and development across institutions Administrative time Language skills Family commitments of (mobile) staff 22
Challenges to internal and external QA Internal QA: Who is responsible? Often weak anchoring of joint programmes within their institution External QA: Who is responsible? Common practice to satisfy one national system but is this sufficient? 23
Lots of Challenges Cross border QA Regulatory framework Pedagogic and academic challenges Involving administrative & support structures From function-based support to demanded need Funktionsbaserat till gränsöverskridande behovsanpassat stöd 24
Exempel Projekt Stödbehov relaterade till Joint Programmes Att ta ett samlat grepp om arbetet med gränsöverskridande program för att kunna erbjuda behovsanpassat stöd till den verksamhet som pågår. Att bidra till ett gemensamt förhållningssätt gentemot programmen som är under utveckling. Att anpassa universitetets interna strukturer till ett internationellt samarbete. 25
Why Internationalisation? Identify an appropriate strategy Quality not quantity Integrate! Create an international culture in the institution Everybodys responsibility How to create adequate administrative & support structures? 26
the key to the gate of heaven is also the key which could open the gate to hell An old Buddhist proverb A Code of conduct is needed 27
Magna Charta of the univesities The university is an autonomous institution at the heart of societies differently organized because of geography and historical heritage; it produces, examines, appraises and hands down culture by research and teaching. 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. 28
Our University shall stand for goals and visions that inspire hope! 29
EUA joint programme Cooperation and coordination A joint degree programme is a highly complex, coordinated activity of partners. Guided by curiosity and trust in what is different Cooperation on the principles of transparency and honesty. Trustworthy communication between all partners Develop a sense of common ownership. Broad involvement and participation of all relevant stakeholder groups Quality assurance should therefore be regarded as a shared and integrated responsibility of the network as well as a responsibility to be taken by each participating institution. 30