University Leadership in an International Context

Frans van Vught

Historical Roots

• Plato’s Academy

• Medieval “Wander Studenten”

• The Birth of the Research University

Internationalisation

• Increasing cooperation between nation states

• Activities and decision-making across national borders

• Major role for nation states

Globalisation

• Interdependence of economics

• Liberalisation of trade and markets

• Vanishing role for nation states

Internationalisation in Higher Education

• To be shaped by higher education institutions

Globalisation in Higher Education

• External macro socio-economic process, hardly to be influenced by higher education institutions

Internationalisation in Higher Education

• The Bologna process (EHEA)

• Nation states as major actors

• Higher education as public good?

• Higher education institutions as implementing agencies

Internationalisation in Higher Education

• The Lisbon agenda (ERA)

• Nation states as major actors

• EC as important facilitator

• Coordination of research efforts

• Higher education institutions as objects of policy

The European Commission (2003)

• European universities are not globally competitive

• The model of Wilhelm von Humboldt is less relevant now

• European universities need to face the challenges of globalisation!

Globalisation in Higher Education

• WTD and GATS

• Economic rationale (“market commodity” approach)

• New providers: corporate, virtual, for-profit

• Cross border delivery: branch campuses, franchise & twinning arrangements

General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS)

• Designed to increase trade liberalisation internationally

• Aims to promote and enforce liberalisation of “education” as service

• Multilateral set of rules (1995; Uruguay Round)

• Administered by WTO

Globalisation & European Higher Education

• Should we open up for foreign access?

• Should foreign providers be eligible for national subsidies?

• Should funding systems be changed?

• Should quality assurance systems be adapted?

Opportunities for Higher Education Institutions

• Review teaching and learning programmes for international clientele

• Include “international dimension”

• Concentrate on high quality programmes

• Reach for international accreditation

• Development of joint programmes

• Increase of funding

Threats for Higher Education Institutions

• Extra investments in quality, staff, infrastructure, facilities

• Decrease of state “protectionism”

• Need to face international accreditation

• Increased competition on international scale

• Decrease of funding

The Major Challenge• Use Bologna Process

– convergence of curriculum structures– comparability of degrees and qualifications

• Develop and market “European Profile”– consortia and partners– joint degree programmes

• The Reputation Race– mission / profile– internationalisation strategy