Leveling the International Playing Field
Registration is now OPEN. Click here to join us from 25-27 May 2011, in Vancouver, Canada.
The 2011 Global Forum on Borderless Higher Education is set to bring together global leaders from higher education, government, and business to engage in strategic policy discussions about the major issues, policies, and practices facing borderless higher education.
The theme for the 2011 Global Forum, ‘Leveling the International Playing Field’, will cover cutting edge topics spanning Global Regionalism, Private Partnerships, Student Mobility, Open and Distance Learning, International Quality Assurance, and the Transnational Student Experience. It will address various dimensions of cross-border higher education and the political, cultural, social, economic and educational impacts on the host country and region.
The 2011 Global Forum will delve into a variety of critical topics that are transforming borderless higher education. These include:
A. Global Regionalism
The emergence of regional higher education networks for building partnerships, facilitating interregional student mobility, and fostering greater awareness and connections of common cultural, social, language, and heritage across the region.
B. Private Partnerships
What are some of the emerging trends in private partnerships in tertiary education? How do they affect the internationalisation strategies of universities? What role does geography play in forging private partnerships?
C. Student Mobility
As student migration is changing at a dynamic pace, an understanding of the factors influencing where students study is critical for success. How can higher education institutions attract more international students? What is driving the decision of many youth to study outside their home countries? How can universities increase the outbound mobility of their students?
D. Open and Distance Learning
Global applications of open and distance learning systems in borderless higher education at the regional and global levels. Moreover, the use of ODL delivery systems to provide HE access to underserved student populations, working adults, and geographically isolated rural communities and cultures.
E. International Quality Assurance
The shifting and changing landscape of quality assurance and assessment models for ensuring quality in borderless higher education programmes. Will the challenging fiscal environment for higher education be a catalyst for more diploma mill providers and low-quality providers attempting to take advantage of this depressed market?
F. The Transnational Student Experience
The services that enhance the holistic student experience for international students and successful models for providing these services. How are issues of culture, language and social 'norms' of international students addressed in curriculum and assessment?
Who should attend:
*Senior leadership and management staff (e.g., Presidents, Pro Vice-Chancellors, Rectors, Provosts, public relations Vice Presidents, Finance Officers, etc.) at universities planning or currently engaged in leading transnational higher education programmes;
*Representatives from quality assurance agencies and ministries of education with oversight responsibilities for cross-border higher education, accreditation, qualification frameworks, and assessment standards;
*Deans, Directors and department faculty chairpersons with academic programme oversight responsibilities for potential cross-border delivery;Student and academic support professionals with responsibilities for providing services to international students and facult;
*Open and distance learning Directors, Managers, instructional designers, evaluation specialists, and marketing professionals; and
*Corporate leaders who are planning and/or are currently partnering with universities in the delivery of international programmes.
Benefits for delegates.
The 2011 Global Forum will provide delegates with a sound understanding and knowledge of transnational higher education practice and policy. This includes:
* Strategies for building consensus among campus faculty and administrators for international programme delivery;
* Aligning cross-border initiatives with institutional mission, vision and values;
* Key planning steps in developing a transnational higher education programme;
* Quality assurance and assessment processes necessary for programme delivery;
* Contractual and regulatory requirements for cross-border higher education;
* Cost scenarios for developing and implementing transnational higher education programmes;
* Marketing, public relations, and cultural obligations for delivering higher education across international borders;
* Branch campus vs. distance learning vs. hybrid models of delivery;
* Best practices from successful institutions to apply at your own institution; and
* Development of an international network of professional colleagues from among the delegates