Developing an
internationalisation strategy:
laying the groundwork and
taking some practical steps
Vicky Lewis
Nicola Peacock
Structure of session
• Agenda
• Icebreaking
• The theory: reasons for
internationalisation and some recent
research
• The practice: what BU is doing on an
operational level
• What can you do to make a difference?
The Theory (1):
rationales and approaches
• What do we mean by
internationalisation?
• Why do we engage in it? Rationales
• National / regional variations
• Institutional approaches
– Self-centred vs outward-looking
– Fragmented vs integrated
The Theory (2):
recent research
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What are the sweet jars telling us?
Headline results from national survey
Some observations
Prerequisites for an internationalisation
strategy
The Practice:
Bournemouth University case
studies
On-the-ground projects at BU:
• Academic / educational
• Cultural / social
• Economic / commercial
Academic / educational (1)
• Global perspectives working group
– Leadership Foundation Fellowship
– ‘Graduates as Global Citizens’ Conference (Sept
2005)
• Curriculum development
– Audit of current provision
– New programme requirements
– Cross-cultural competence units
Academic / educational (2)
• Processes of transition: pre-arrival / on
arrival
• Ongoing support and development:
PDP / PAL / mentoring / workshops
• Diversity week
Showcase: Introduction to
Academic Life Programme
Proposed Benefits:
• Re-deployment of resources – greater efficiency in support
provision
• Improved retention and progress levels
• Improved learning environment (and learning / teaching
experience)
• An international experience for all (and all the benefits
associated with Employability/Learning and Teaching strategy)
• A learning package that can be used with students / staff from
other cultures on entry
Programme of sessions
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•
•
•
•
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Cultural transition to Britain / British HE
Experience of academic time
Academic status
Individual responsibility
Assessment
HE language
The process
• Student evaluation / focus groups
• Informal discussion with like minded
colleague!
• Paper written for International Development
Steering Group
• Funding from central Academic Services
(induction focus in L+T strategy)
• L+T bid – student evaluation
But it wasn’t all plain sailing…!
Some barriers:
• Devolved structure / corporate provision
• Generic preparation for academic life /
specific subject based preparation
• Academic / admin
• Resourcing
Showcase:
Diversity week
• Annual corporate event for ALL internal
community
• Celebration and awareness raising
• Contributions from academic Schools,
support services and student union
• Limited Funding from HR pot
• International support team contribute funding
for our student events
Diversity week; our
contribution
• Active members of steering committee
• International pavilion: performances /
presentations by student societies
• International student photo competition
and viewing
Opportunities
• Opportunity for students to give something
back
• Opportunity for students to express
themselves: be seen / be heard / be valued
• Opportunity for all internal community to
develop themselves
• Need to extend out to external community
Threats
Lack of buy in from students and staff
• What is the point?
• Is one week enough?
Possible solutions:
• Student society contract
• Embedding diversity agenda; staff
development strategy
Cultural / social
• Employability
– Working Worlds
– Learning & Teaching at BU Conference
• Integration
– Community work
– Student ambassadors
– Hosting
Showcase: Working Worlds
Primary objective:
To develop our careers, advice and support
function for incoming international students AND
outgoing students on placement overseas
through:
• online and paper resources
• workshops
• greater collaboration between the International
Office Support Team, the Careers Service and
other relevant parties.
Achievements:
• Workshops for international students
• Resources on web
• Cross cultural training with Careers Service / other
staff development planned
• Cross cultural training for students going overseas
on exchange / placement
• Articles in local business magazine and internal
magazine outlining issues for employers
• Leaflet for employers
• Input employability conference
Economic / commercial
• Student support and excellent service
as selling points
– The role of the International Office as a
model of good practice
• Tie-in with Marketing Strategy
• Full and honest information, informed by
current students
• Access to current students
Showcase:
using existing students
• Target country focus groups
– Outcomes feeding into marketing /
recruitment plans
– Outcomes feeding into promotional
materials
• Current student and alumni profiles
• “Contact a current student” service
• Student ambassadors
But where’s the strategy?
• Still in development
– Internationalisation Working Group
• Much can be done on the ground even
while strategy still developing
• Can help to build strategy “from the
bottom up” - so not starting with a blank
sheet
Prerequisites for successful onthe-ground projects
• All projects must be consistent with
institutional values and priorities
• Visible top-down commitment –
including resources
• Firm links with other strategies, policies
and procedures
• Internal communication and selfpromotion
What can you do to make a
difference?
Action planning:
• Ideas for projects
– What are the barriers?
– How can they be overcome?
• Reality check: are they in line with
institutional values?