Experiences of Internationalization From a Canadian University

• In Event: 29.019 - Internationalization, Immigration, and Global Citizenship Education: Toward Equal Educational Opportunity in Canada

Abstract

As critiques of neoliberal orientations of internationalization of higher education continue to rise, notions of global citizenship are now being used to legitimate the benefits of, and even serve as an imperative to internationalize higher education institutions. However, there is scant scrutiny of internationalization itself in relation to the claims made about the educational outcomes, even though it provides rich possibilities for the changing nature of higher education. What does global citizenship itself mean in the context of internationalization? How can one aspire to be a citizen of the world in which borders and boundaries are at once contested and protected, and, where some count more than others? Does it imply a privileged positioning in the global marketplace, an understanding of global social issues, and/or taking on the responsibilities towards addressing global inequities? This paper will present data from a critical study of internationalization in a Canadian university to explore what discourses circulate among those engaged in the day-to-day practices of internationalization. The study, currently in the final stages of data collection, utilities both quantitative and qualitative data from faculty, students, and staff across eight faculties, to investigate the complex and interconnected issues related to internationalization.

Author

• Kumari Beck, Simon Fraser University