In recent decades, the internationalization of higher education has become a leading trend emphasizing the development of globalization processes. It included not only individual universities or organizations, but also entire states. This is not surprising, since the internationalization of the education system can bring significant results. And not only in the form of an influx of foreign students. This process gives a serious impetus to the development of both the system of higher education of the whole state and a single higher educational institution that wants to be competitive.
The concept of internationalization of education
It arose relatively recently - at the end of the last century, but quickly enough became the main characteristic of the integration processes taking place in this area. It was based on a variety of ideas for international cooperation in the field of education, most of which have already been implemented as various kinds of programs.
We can say that the internationalization of education is a process, the essence of which is the active introduction of the international component in all the functional areas of the university. That is, it affects not only educational activities, but also research, and even administrative. The authors of articles on internationalization emphasize its connection with all the functions of the educational process and note the presence of a complex nature of this influence.
Forms of cooperation
It should be noted that the internationalization of education is a process that includes various formats of international interaction:
- mobility for educational purposes: this includes not only students and teaching staff, but also representatives of the university administration;
- the introduction of such types of mobility, as institutional and programmatic, based on various teaching tools;
- compilation of updated educational standards based on international standards and their inclusion in the curriculum of universities;
- the creation of various forms of long-term partnership in the institutional sphere of education.
Considering all these types of international cooperation, it is necessary to pay attention to the fact that the internationalization of education is a process that covers not only external forms in the form of study abroad. It is also a complex internal transformation. It covers all types of activities of higher educational institutions and directs them towards international cooperation.
Implementation strategies
Today, world practice has developed various strategies that are developing on the basis of such a trend as the internationalization of the educational process. Depending on the motives for their implementation, they can be formed into four groups.
- The strategy of a coordinated approach is based on long-term international cooperation. It is implemented by increasing the mobility of both students and teachers, exchange programs, partnership agreements. The fundamental position of this strategy is not competition, but the establishment of cooperation.
- A strategy that supports the migration of leading foreign specialists and gifted students. The host country, seeking to increase its competitiveness, creates a number of conditions for them: academic scholarships, a simplified visa regime and immigration standards.
- Profitable Strategy. It is also based on attracting qualified specialists with the only difference being that there are no benefits, and education is provided on a paid basis. The influx of foreign students allows universities to organize entrepreneurial activities.
- Advanced features strategy. It is called upon to encourage education abroad or in domestic universities that provide such services. Levers of implementation here are activities aimed at supporting the mobility of both students and scientists, teachers and public servants.
Levels of Internationalization Management
Today it becomes obvious that even global processes need to be regulated, and that it includes not only specific enterprises or organizations, but also the state itself.
The foregoing fully applies to those phenomena that reflect the current trend of the internationalization of education. Three main levels of management can be distinguished here:
- state;
- regional;
- high school.
Each has its own strategy and management tools. The state, forming the development strategy of this process, must take into account not only the trends of the existing foreign experience, but also the specifics of its cultural environment, the potential of higher educational institutions, their material base. At this level, tools and norms are being created that allow universities to effectively develop in the direction of internationalization.
The regional level is designed to create, so to speak, “in place” those conditions and infrastructure that will not only allow the development of educational institutions and other related institutions, but also create comfortable conditions for foreign students.
Most clearly, instruments for managing the process of internationalization in education can be reflected precisely at the level of an educational institution.
Management tools
They can be developed in a complex or implemented at different levels of management separately.
- Invitation to the cooperation of international experts. The direction of their activities may be different: as an expert in educational programs or participation in the development of the institution's development strategy.
- The development of such an element as international competencies. This tool belongs not only to the teaching staff, but also to everyone who will be involved in the educational process in one way or another.
- Formation of institutional partnership with leading foreign educational centers.
- Inclusion in the activities of a professional association or network for the promotion of an educational institution in the international educational market.
- University participation in international rankings.
- The development, together with other educational institutions of the country and abroad, of various educational projects.
- Development and implementation of research programs with foreign partners.
- Conducting international accreditation. Certification of education quality based on world standards.
The presented list can be continued, since the internationalization of education is a development process that constantly opens up new diverse forms of cooperation.
Management Effectiveness Factors
Two groups of factors play a role here: internal and external. The first includes the potential of a higher educational institution: material and technical equipment, the level of development of the teaching staff, etc.
The second is implemented at the state level. It covers political and socio-economic conditions. In the first case, the policy implemented in the field of education plays a decisive role. Today, it is taking on a clearer focus and is proposing new and effective tools for implementing internationalization.
Accounting for socio-economic conditions is based on demographic, geographical and economic data, which also need to be taken into account when developing and implementing a strategy for the development of education.
Internal Development Resources
At the university level, the success of internationalization is determined by its capabilities:
- level of knowledge of a foreign language ;
- the presence of high-quality specialized programs that will allow the university to find its own sphere and offer educational services there;
- cooperation with foreign higher education institutions;
- the presence of international experience.
An important place here is the presence of an adequate development strategy and the desire to follow it.
Role in the development of global processes
Modern trends, reflecting the direction of development of the modern world, prompt to pay attention to the correlation of processes such as globalization and internationalization of education. Both of them are in some way interconnected. A vivid and controversial trend that characterizes modern transformations, globalization affects almost all spheres of human activity, including education.
In itself, this concept is used by some researchers to characterize globalization, which is presented as the process of internationalization of various areas of life: economic, technological, cultural, commercial, etc.
This allows us to define globalization as the root cause and foundation of the transformation of training systems. Therefore, the internationalization of education is an important component of the development of global processes, which includes not only various educational institutions, but also entire states.
Internationalization as a development factor
It is from such positions that it is proposed to consider this process, since in this way it can be presented as an effective tool stimulating the achievement of such goals:
- increased teaching levels;
- development of various forms of research work;
- the ability to select and use the best examples of international experience;
- an increase in the number of competitive advantages of the university both in the domestic market and in the external - international one.
These are general directions for the development of an educational institution that wants to find its place in the global educational process.
They should be concretized and displayed in the strategic directions of the development of the university, which are determined on the basis of potential. Here you also need to specify your idea of a place in the global system, to establish what it will be: a world level, industry or, possibly, regional.