10 April 2014 
Matt Sisson, Projects and Membership Manager
The International Association of Universities (IAU) has published the results of its latest Global Survey, which revealed that 75% of HEIs either have an internationalization policy strategy or are preparing one. However, only 16% of the 1,336 responding institutions have internationalisation embedded in their overall institutional strategies. Professor Nigel Healy, Pro-Vice Chancellor of Nottingham Trent University, told delegates at the International Higher Education summit that international strategies need to form part of overall institutional goals if universities are to equip students to be “global citizens and to be employable in the globalized labour market.”
Another reason is for institutions to remain competitive, according to Simon Marginson, Director of Higher Education at the Institute of Education. He told the International Unit, “The UK's position in the international student market remains strong but could be undone by a combination of factors: improving higher education in the rest of the world, an unsympathetic visa regime and uncompetitive post-study work rights in the UK, and insular confidence that global English [language] and the attractions of London allow us to continue business as usual without adjusting educational programs or student welfare to the international students in our midst.”
Finally, Ross Hudson, author of the aforementioned Global Survey report, told the International Unit that international collaborations also allow institutions to “share financial and other burdens” and produce “higher quality research”. A recent Universities UK report also shows the significant economic contribution of internationalisation:
For more information, please read the latest International Unit Newsletter.
