Institutional Internationalisation Strategies and their (possible) impact on the quality of educational programs

Arthur Mettinger Austrian Bologna Expert, University of Vienna

> Strategic Development Plan (since 2005):- UoV should be among the best European research universities- UoV should offer internationally attractive study programmes, educating students for the European/ global labour market

WHY DID UOV DEVELOP AN INTSTRAT?

> Internationalisation (strategy) is not an end in itselfbut contributes to reaching those goals

> Based on existing strengths (ties with leading HEIs,network participation, geographical location)

> the draft strategy/main goals have been developedby the Rectorate under assistance of & discussed with:the University Board, the Senate, deans, study programme directors, Research Services & Int’ l Relations Office

WHO DEVELOPED THE INTSTRAT?

> Inclusiveness: cooperation instead of mere top down enactment

> Data based: indicators on the basis of a collection of reliable data (from the UoV data warehouse)

Research:> Increased share of international scientists at all levels> Enhanced cooperation with the best international universities/research institutes> Increased participation in international projects (focus: EU research programs)> Increased international visibility of research achievements (e.g. publications in leading international journals)> (Further) Development of internationally attractive doctoral programs in cooperation with leading European/international universities

MAJOR STRATEGIC GOALS I

Education:> Increased share of international students in MA- and PhD study programs> Increased mobility of teachers> Qualitative Increase of student mobility (differentiated: BA/MA/PhD)> Development of a comprehensive “multilingualism -policy”: increase students’ and teachers’ foreign-language competencies

MAJOR STRATEGIC GOALS II

> Number of internationally financed research projects> Scientific publications: Co-Authorship according to nation/institution> Cooperation (partnership agreements, joint-study-programs, cooperation

agreements) according to regions and rankings of partner institutions> Number of students that participate in international mobility programs

(outgoing) according to guest-country (EU/international) and mobility program> Number of students that participate in international mobility programs

(incoming) according to citizenship (EU/international) and mobility program> Number of students (Master-/PhD-level) without Austrian Bachelor- or Master

Degree according to field of study and citizenship (EU/international)

KEY INDICATORS I

> Number of Joint-Programs / Number of Master-programs in English> Number of professorial appointments from abroad (EU/Germany/international)

and percentage with regard to total number of professorial appointments in this time-span

> Share of scientific staff without Austrian citizenship according to staff categories> Share of teachers that teach courses (without language courses in language

studies) in a language other than German> Share of courses taught in a language other than German

KEY INDICATORS II

Students: within-degree mobility

OUT IN

2007/08 1.926 1.622

2008/09 1.948 1.718

2009/10 1.980 1.706

graduates % mobile (out)

1.171/5.228 22,39 %

1.386/6.757 20,51 %

1.423/6.193 22,97 %

Student mobility: a differentiated approach

purpose of mobility - differentiated according to programme level:

– BA: focus on program mobility inside Europe (experience, languages, culture); 1-2 terms

– MA/PhD: research stays at the best international universities/research inst. (of the respective field); 1-3 months

2020 target: 25% BA grad., 60% MA grad., 75% PhD grad.

„Experiential mobility“

• Knowledge of curricula(similarity?)

• Course offer (regularity)• Language (+ linguistic

preparation)• Full recognition

(outcome-oriented, on module basis)

• Admin. help

„Research-oriented mob.“

• Knowledge of research potential

• Research collaboration• Joint supervision• Integration into

scientific community• Language (for

survival)• Admin. help

Students: between-degree mobility

•(New) focus on degree-seeking students at MA/PhD level

– Establishment of attractive MA/PhD Programs (English)

– Development of “Joint Programs” (MA/PhD)

Staff: “Brain gain” mobility

Appointment of prof. by country of origin 2007 2008 2009

EU 12 13 14

other 5 2 5

Austria 14 7 10

total 31 22 19international share 54,84% 68,18% 65,52%

> Beliefs vs. Evidence?> The underlying concept of „internationalisation“?> Correlations: real vs. imagined?> „Quality“?> Whose perspective?

DISCUSSION: „BLIND SPOTS“?

> Major features that should go into a (comprehensive) internationalisation strategy