Internationalization in North America

• In Event: 49.046 - Internationalization Efforts Around the World

Abstract

Institutional approaches to internationalizing higher education vary across regions (Marmolejo, 2010) in response to differences in the historical, political, economic, and cultural, contexts in which the institutions are embedded (de Wit, 2002). For instance, while Asian and Middle Eastern nations tend to emphasize cultural rationales and “southern” nations tend to seek to improve the curriculum at higher education institutions, internationalization at “western” universities – including institutions in North America – tends to be driven by “a commercial imperative” (Maringe et al. 2013, p. 9).

Recognizing these and other regional variations, this paper draws on a comprehensive review and synthesis of prior research to offer an assessment of the internationalization strategies of higher education institutions in one region: North America. While much rhetoric has touted the need for North American higher education institutions to respond to globalization trends, the body of research on the internationalization of higher education remains underdeveloped (de Wit, 2002).

In an attempt to bring order within the multiple dimensions of internationalization, the paper begins by describing how internationalization of higher education is defined and operationalized in North America. Data from existing reports are mined to report the status and trends of four types of internationalization activities: student mobility (both study abroad and recruitment of international students); curriculum (including area studies centers and various curricular requirements); faculty research (including research partnerships and mobility); and institutional partnerships (including joint degrees and branch campuses). The paper then draws on a review and synthesis of prior research and reports to identify the political, economic, and other context forces that have influenced the evolution of internationalization strategies in North America. Little rigorous research is available to understand the effects of different internationalization strategies or the forces that contribute to their success. Drawing from available data, research, and organizational theories, the paper describes the likely roles of an explicit institutional commitment, sufficient administrative structure, faculty engagement, and funding. The paper concludes by identifying emerging issues that should be considered in future research on internationalization of higher education in North America, including the growing competitiveness among institutions across the globe for international students, ethical issues in the practices used to recruit international students, implications of changing technology for student and faculty mobility and for internationalization of the curriculum, equity in the opportunity to participate in various international higher education opportunities (at both the student and institutional levels), data collection needs, and the paucity of high-quality research especially with regard to documenting the benefits and outcomes of internationalization.

Authors

• Laura W. Perna, University of Pennsylvania

• Kata Orosz, University of Pennsylvania