Rethinking Internationalization from the Perspective of Actors Driving the Internationalization Process of a Chinese Research University Mei Qu, Aarhus University 05/15/15, Newcastle
Internationalization the process of integrating an international, intercultural and global dimension into the purpose, functions and delivery of postsecondary education (Knight, 2003)
Actors Individuals (administrators, academics, students) or organizations who participate in the internationalization process of a university. These actors come from the government, education and the private sectors (Knight 2004; Zha 2003); They are from the sub-institutional, institutional, local, national, regional or global arenas. (Becher & Trowler 2001 ; Marginson & Rhoades 2002).
Actors Roles Policymaking Regulating Advocacy Funding Programming Networking Information dissemination Knight (2008)
Aim Which actors have been driving the internationalization process of a Chinese research university? How have the actors functioned in the internationalization process?
Method Research site: A Chinese research university Fieldwork time: Oct. to Dec. 2014 Data resources: -historical documents; -the news, reports, videos, blogs and other kinds of information published online; -brochures collected in the campus; -interviewees (including students, administrators and academics) who are familiar with or are participating in internationalization; -observation notes made when participating in some internationalization related activities.
Background of the Chinese Research University Founded in early 20th century, advocating both western and Chinese knowledge; Seriously disturbed during the war era and Cultural Revolution period; Restarted its normal work in 1978, when reform and opening-up policy was officially proposed.
Findings The Exploration Stage (1978-1988) The Development Stage (1988-1998) The Deepening Stage (1998-2008) The Current Stage (2008-)
The Exploration Stage (1978-1988) National Gov. Advocacy Policymaking & Funding FAO Regulating University Leaders Private Foundations (Overseas Chinese) Funding Intergov.Org. Programming A Few Students & Academics Networking Programming A Few Chinese and Foreign Scholars Working Abroad
The Development Stage (1988-1998) National Gov. Foreign Gov. FAO University Leaders Private Foundations (Overseas Chinese) Transnational Corp. A Few Students & Senior Academics Overseas Alumni Foreign Uni. International Uni. Assoc.
The Deepening Stage (1998-2008) Private Foundations National Gov. University Leaders FAO & Other Adm. Regulating Transnational Corp. Department Int. Office (r) Students & Academics (Programing) Overseas Aca. Foreign Uni. International Uni. Asso. Confucius Institutes Overseas Alumni
The Current Stage (2008-) Training Companies National Gov. Loc.Gov. Policymaking & Funding Policymaking & Funding Transnational Corp. University Leaders FAO Other Adm. MOOC Reg. Departments Stu. & Aca. (Programing) Ranking and Accreditation Agencies Confucius Institutes Overseas Aca. International Uni. Asso. Overseas Alumni Foreign Uni. International NGOs
Discussion More actors, diverse actors Richer resources to explore Change in interaction among actors: Tension between internationalization by hierarchy and design and internationalization by choice and discipline (Trondal 2010)
References Becher, T. and P. Trowler (2001). Academic tribes and territories: Intellectual enquiry and the culture of disciplines, McGraw-Hill International. Knight, J. (2003). "Updated internationalization definition." International Higher Education 33(2003): 2-3. Knight, J. (2004). "Internationalization Remodeled: Definition, Approaches, and Rationales." Journal of Studies in International Education 8(1): 5-31. Knight, J. (2008). "The internationalization of higher education: complexities and realities." Higher education in Africa: The international dimension: 1-43. Marginson, S. and G. Rhoades (2002). "Beyond national states, markets, and systems of higher education: A glonacal agency heuristic." Higher Education 43(3): 281-309. Trondal, J. (2010). "Two Worlds of Change: On the Internationalisation of Universities." Globalisation, Societies and Education 8(3): 351-368. Zha, Q. (2003). "Internationalization of higher education: towards a conceptual framework." Policy Futures in Education 1(2): 248-270.
THANK YOU meq@dpu.dk