The development and promotion of internationalization of higher education institutions - The role of European networks

THE DEVELOPMENT AND PROMOTION OF INTERNATIONALIZATION OF HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS - THE ROLE OF EUROPEAN NETWORKS

THE CASE OF SPACE NETWORK

Anabela MesquitaSPACE network

AUTHOR

PhD in Information Systems and Technologies

Vice Dean of one of the schools of the Polytechnic Institute of Porto

Director of CICE research Centre

Editor in chief of IJTHI

AE for IRMJ, JCIT

President of SPACE network

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AGENDA

Introduction

Importance of internationalisation

Strategies to internationalise

Benefits of networking

International networks

SPACE network – particular example

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INTRODUCTION

Higher Education Institutions are more and more facing several challenges

need to create entrepreneurial mind-sets,

to stimulate business creation

generate and exploit new ideas.

In order to cope with these challenges, many HEI have developed different and innovative approaches:

new strategies for teaching,

connection with business

internationalisationANABELA MESQUITA 4

IMPORTANCE OF INTERNATIONALISATION

Internationalisation is very important for any HEI

As HEInnovate says:

It was “identified as one of the characteristics of an “entrepreneurial higher education institution”.

And “It is not possible for a higher education institution to be entrepreneurial without being international, but the HEI can be international without being entrepreneurial, innovative” (HEInnovate).

https://heinnovate.eu/

Self assessment tool created by the European Commission and the OECD. It facilitates the assessment of an HEI in a systematic way, opening up discussion and debate on the entrepreneurial and innovative

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STRATEGIES TO INTERNATIONALISE

Extra-curricular strategies

(International student advisers; orientation

programmes; social events and other

social facilities for foreign guests;

international students associations;

international houses for students and

scholars; institutional facilities)

Research

(Centres of excellence; incorporation of an international

perspective into existing research centres and programme;

collaboration with international partners; comparative approaches; dissemination of research results

and sharing of knowledge (networks, reviews,

publications, databases, conferences, seminars, workshops,

colloquia); establishment of networks; research

mobility)

Technical support

(Training of staff and students; curriculum

advising; research training; sending books and

equipment; support)

Education

(Foreign languages studies; recruitment of foreign students

for full degree programmes; study abroad opportunities;

international cooperation agreements; mobility; joint or

double degrees; ECTS; international internships)

Internationalisatio

n

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BENEFITS OF NETWORKING

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10 BENEFITS OF NETWORKS

1. Shared knowledge – helps to expand knowledge and allow to see things fromanother perspective. To learn and avoid pitfalls

2. Opportunities

3. Connections – building connections

4. Increase confidence – by pushing yourself to talk to people you do not knowit will help to increase your confidence

5. Raising your profile – being visible and getting noticed

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10 BENEFITS OF NETWORKS

6. Advice and support – networking will give you the opportunity to get advicefrom your peers

7. Positive influence – surround yourself with positive, uplifting people thathelp you to grow and thrive

8. Satisfaction from helping others

9. Friendship

10. Get fresh ideas – source of new perspectives and ideas

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Networks of higher education institutions

can be a possible solution for HEI to start and accomplish their internationalisation strategy. There are several possibilities

closer look into one of these European networks and analyse their activities and see how this can happen

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INTERNATIONAL NETWORKS

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EURASHE

European Association ofInstitutions in Higher Educationthat offer professionallyorientated programmes and are engaged in applied research within the Bologna cycles.

EURASHE representsuniversities of appliedsciences and universitycolleges.

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EUA

Representative organisation ofuniversities and nationalrectors’ conferences in 47 European countries. EUA playsa crucial role in the Bologna Process and in influencing EU policies on higher education, research and innovation.

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BUSINET

Network of international higher educationinstitutes that share a common ethosregarding internationalization.

It provides an environment that encourages thesharing of good practice and encourages co-operation between like-minded individuals andlink minded organisations.

Working groups

Conferences

Other events

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ACINET

Network of HEI mostly from south america andPortugal although not closed from membersfrom other countries.

Conference

Publications

Other events

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POD NETWORK

The vision of the Professional and Organizational DevelopmentNetwork in Higher Education isfor all institutions of highereducation to value, promote, andreward teaching as a core scholarly activity that is informedby research and reflection andwhich results in deep learning for all students.

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EAIE

Organisation servingindividuals actively involved in the internationalisation oftheir institutions through a combination of training, conferences and knowledgeacquisition and sharing.

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NAFSA

World's largest nonprofitassociation dedicated to international education andexchange.

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SPACE NETWORK

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WHO THEY ARE (PRESENT)

The SPACE network is an international network of predominantly professional highereducation institutions including universities and VET schools servicing researchers, teachersand students on levels 5, 6 and 7, in the field of (broad sense) business, languages, entrepreneurship and hospitality.

It provides participation in a wide range of prestigious projects and alsoassistance concerning the submission and management of European projects, new teaching& learning and conceptual and applied research/innovation, besides being a space for sharing and dissemination of new teaching and learning materials and methodologies, research & innovation, and outcomes of projects.

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ACTIVITIES (ADDRESSING NEEDS OF ALL TARGETS)

International conference

Targets: researchers, teachers, students

Format: academic paper, pedagogical cases, business cases, posters

Allows disseminating results, ideas, projects. Promotes the contact betweenresearchers, collaboration. Emergence of ideas for future projects; building trust and confidence. Allows knowing better partners.

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ANNUAL CONFERENCE

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Journal of advances in higher education

Targets: researchers, teachers, students

Publication of research and pedagogical experiences; dissemination of research results. Usually there is a special issuewith the best papers of the conference.

Possibility to prepare special issues of other journals(indexed) with thematic papers presented in the conference. Ex: International Journal of Technology and HumanInteraction

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Projects

Targets: researchers, teachers

Support in the preparation of projects prospoals, submission of project’s proposal, findpartners, involvement in projects leaded or preapared by SPACE.

Elearning

Target: teachers

Elearning courses prepared by members at the disposal of partners. Sharing

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Special activities / events

Targets: teachers, researchers, students

Focused in certain topics allowing partners to share their experiences, doubts, concerns.

Ex: MACOMIP – mini intensive programme about marketing communications. Last topic: “Healthy food for young people” – preparation of a marketing communication plan

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Meetings (focused on certain topics).

Targets: researchers, IO staff

Ex: preparation of project proposals, students competition

Intermediary

SPACE belongs to other networks (ex: EURASHE) which allows members to have a voice in those networks even not being a member there

Right place to find partners for exchange of students, teachers and staff and prepare agreements

Facilitates to build trust and confidence among partners (ex: case of the doublediploma)

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Communication – email + newsletters (dissemination of information from membersto members) – website, Facebook profile

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Newsletter

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Members’ private area

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ADVANTAGES OF BELONGING TO AN INTERNATIONAL NETWORKS

Extra-curricular strategies

Contributes to:

Find international student advisers;

organize orientation programmes and

share good practices; help students to

create and learn about international

students associations

Research

Contributes to:

Promote international collaboration between researchers;

allows to incorporate na international perspective in the

HEI and research centres and programmes; promotes the

collaboration among international partners; helps

comparative studies; dissemination of research results and

sharing of knowledge (reviews, publications, databases, conferences, seminars, workshops, colloquia); promotes

research mobility)

Technical support

Allos to share good practices and ideas

Education

Students exchange; foreign languages studies; recruitment

of foreign students for full degree programmes;

opportunities; international cooperation agreements;; joint

or double degrees; international internships)

SPACE

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CONCLUSION

Entrepreneurship and internationalisation of HEI are necessary

Possible solution – international networks due to its advantages

There are several solutions / networks adapted to the needs of each HEI. Usually it isadvisable to belong to more than one network since they may be specific

Example of SPACE network

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INVITE YOU TO TAKE A LOOK AT OUR FACEBOOK AND WEBSIT

https://www.facebook.com/www.spaceuniversities.info/

http://www.space-network.org/

President of SPACE network

Anabela Mesquita – [email protected]

Secretarial services

Julie Verstraeten - [email protected]

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?Thank you

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