In order to be successful, internationalization efforts need to take into account the various trends and influences impacting higher education. Hudzik (2011, 25) points out that activities and initiatives geared towards internationalization need to be continually evaluated and adjusted to changing contexts. He says that “[t]he mix of resource allocations and programs at any point in time is a response not only to a general culture for international engagement but to the present social, political, economic, and global environments”.
Trends and influences
Wouldn’t it be the easiest approach to simply find an internationalization strategy defined by another institution and then copy/paste it to your institution? Unfortunately, it doesn’t work that way – although, of course, inspiration can be drawn from what other institutions do. Ultimately, however, there is no single approach to internationalization that will suit all institutions, owing to “the diversity of higher education institutions and their organizational cultures” (Hudzik 2011, 22) and to the different contexts and environments in which these institutions operate. Therefore, to find the best fit for your institution, it is vital to take into account not only the structure of your institution, but also its surroundings, both local and global, specific temporary situations and long-term trends. Here are some examples of factors which need to be considered when defining an internationalization strategy:
• local economic and political situations and development
• regional, national and local perspectives and realities
• technology and related developments
• education and research in the institutional and local contexts
• trends (see, for example, the NAFSA Hot Trends)
As a first step, being aware of or creating awareness of these factors is essential in the context of strategic planning. In the second step, the relevant factors should be clearly identified and analyzed, if possible, by different stakeholders. This analysis should then inform the further development of a strategy.
References
• Comprehensive Internationalization: From Concept to Action
John K. Hudzik
NAFSA, 2011
http://sustgglobaleducation.pbworks.com/w/file/fetch/59358291/2011-Comprehensive%20Internationalization%20by%20John%20Hudzik.pdf (accessed 02.11.2018)
• 2017 Hot Trends for Senior International Officers NAFSA, 2017
• 2018 Hot Trends for International Education Leaders
NAFSA, 2018
http://www.nafsa.org/uploadedFiles/NAFSA_Dojo/Professional_Resources/Browse_by_Interest/Internationalizing_Higher_Education/Network_Resources/International_Education_Leadership/sio_hot_trends.pdf (accessed 02.08.2018)