Warwick International Programme in the Leadership and Management of Higher Education, Warwick, UK (7-20 April 2013)
The University of Warwick is holding its ‘International Programme in the Leadership and Management of Higher Education’ from 7 to 20 April. The Warwick IPLM is an intensive two-week programme for university leaders and senior managers from within and outside the UK. It is aimed at academic and non-academic managers and designed to provide opportunities to explore strategic issues and management challenges in international higher education management with experienced professionals. To find out more, please visit the programme website.

Conférence AHELO - 11-12 mars 2013
Measuring Learning Outcomes in Higher Education: Lessons Learnt from the AHELO Feasibility Study and Next Steps, Centre des conférences de l'OCDE, Paris. Gestion des établissements d'enseignement supérieur (IMHE).
Participation uniquement par invitation. Pour plus d'informations, veuillez contacter ahelo@oecd.org. Rapports des conférences. Autres conférences.
Rapports des conférences
2012
19-20 septembre 2012
Table ronde de l'OCDE sur L’enseignement supérieur et le développement des villes et des espaces régionaux : Universities for Skills, Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Growth, Centre de conférences de l'OCDE, Paris, France.
17-19 septembre 2012
Conférence générale IMHE: L’enseignement supérieur démocratique: y parvenir et le soutenir, Centre de conférences de l'OCDE, Paris, France.
12-13 avril 2012
Cette conférence a examinée le rôle clé joué par les multiples acteurs pour lutter contre les effets de la crise financière mondiale, pour promouvoir des politiques de relance et en particulier pour l'emploi, l'innovation et la création de richesses.
2011
15-16 décembre 2011
Conférence sur La gestion stratégique de l’internationalisation dans l'enseignement supérieur  (Conférence en anglais)
Université de Lund, Lund, Suède, coorganisée avec l'Association des universités scandinaves (NUS) et l'Association scandinave des administrateurs d'université (NUAS)
La conférence a examinée les tendances mondiales et les défis de l'internationalisation auxquels  font face les établissements d'enseignement supérieur à travers le monde. La conférence a étudiée également les changements dans les méthodes d'enseignement et d'apprentissage dans le contexte de l'internationalisation. Les présentations sont disponible sur: http://congresslund.com/smoi.
5-6 décembre 2011
"Les innovations qui marchent" – Conférence sur la gestion de la qualité de l’enseignement dans le supérieur (Conférence en anglais)
Université CETYS, Mexicali, Mexique, coorganisée avec le Consortium for American Higher Education Collaboration (CONAHEC). Environ 85 personnes (la plupart engagées dans la qualité des formations et des enseignements dans le supérieur ) provenant de 23 pays différents ont assisté à l’événement. La conférence a donné lieu à des séances plénières et des études de cas ainsi qu’à des groupes de travail étudiant concrètement les améliorations possibles de la qualité et la mesure de ses effets. L’événement fut extrêmement bien organisé et a bénéficié de conditions de travail excellentes. Les participants ont démontré un sens aigu d’engagement et d’intérêt. Les présentations et les vidéos seront prochainement mises sur le site internet.
17-18 octobre 2011
L'OCDE / Séminaire IMHE "La collaboration entre l'enseignement professionnel et universitaire: Construire des partenariats pour le développement régional", Centre Carlos Santamaría, au Campus de l'Université de Gipuzkoa du Pays Basque (Donostia-San Sebastián), Espagne.
Le séminaire a examiné les principaux défis et les opportunités de collaboration entre professionnels de l'enseignement supérieur et universitaire pour le développement régional. Les bonnes pratiques internationales de collaboration et la division du travail entre les institutions d'enseignement supérieur ont été présentées et discutées dans la perspective de leur contribution au développement du capital humain et de l'innovation dans les villes et les régions. Le séminaire a attiré plus de 80 participants et a compté avec la collaboration de 28 intervenants. Les participants comprenaient des experts, des décideurs et des praticiens politiques, des organismes publics et privés concernés par le développement du capital humain et l'innovation dans les villes et les régions; des dirigeants et responsables d'universités et d'institutions d'enseignement supérieur professionnel.
1 avril 2011
Atelier sur l'Internationalisation
OCDE Centre de conférences, Paris, France
10-11 février 2011  
Conférence de l'OCDE: L’enseignement supérieur et le développement des villes et des espaces régionaux – Pour des régions plus fortes, plus propres et plus juste Université de Séville, Séville, Espagne
S’appuyant sur  des séries d’études thématiques du Programme sur l’enseignement supérieur dans le développement des villes et des régions de  l’OCDE, cette conférence a traité sur les moyens novateurs que les établissement d’enseignement supérieur peuvent apporter au développement  d’une économie basée sur la connaissance et l’amélioration de la cohésion sociale. Cette conférence a réunit, tous ensemble, des représentants, principalement provenant des universités, des gouvernements nationaux, régionaux et locaux des régions participantes et entamera le lancement du rapport de synthèse final de la deuxième série des examens de l'OCDE sur l'enseignement supérieur dans le développement des villes et des espaces régionaux. Cette conférence internationale a été organisée conjointement avec le Gouvernement régional d'Andalousie et l'Université de Séville. Les présentations sont disponibles en ligne.
2010
12-20 octobre 2010
OCDE Programme sur le Développement économique et créations d'emplois locaux, Trentro Centre/Séminaire IMHE: Universités, compétences et esprit d'entreprise.
Ce séminaire a proposé différentes présentations d'études de cas par des experts invités, des analystes de l'OCDE, des participants et des activités de groupe créatif. Guidé par une liste de critères de l'OCDE de bonnes pratiques dans le soutien à l'entreprenariat local, les participants ont travaillé sur des plans actions individuels qui ont aidé leurs organisations à contribuer et à profiter d'un partenariat de travail dans le soutien à l'entrepreneuriat. Une session OPENSPACE a offerte aux participants des opportunités d'entretiens approfondis avec des personnes qui conçoivent et mettent en oeuvre des bonnes pratiques en la matière.
15-16 septembre 2010
L'enseignement supérieur et le développement des villes et des espaces régionaux: Table ronde de l'OCDE, Centre de Conférences, Paris, France
Cet évènement a attiré 90 participants venant de 23 pays, dont des représentants des établissements d'enseignement supérieur, des gouvernements régionaux, des délégations des pays de l'OCDE, l'OCDE et des organisations internationales telles que l'EU, l'UNESCO, la Banque Mondiale et Lumina Fondation. La réunion a permis de créer des opportunités pour le partage des connaissances entre les villes et les régions participantes aux examens de l'OCDE sur l'enseignement supérieur dans le développement régional afin de discuter les questions clés soulevées lors des examens, comme l'élargissement à l'accès et l'attraction des talents, l'innovation régionale, la croissance verte et la regénération urbaine. Les présentations sont disponibles ici.
13-15 septembre 2010
Conférence générale IMHE: Enseignement supérieur dans un monde en profonde mutation: faire plus avec moins, Centre de conférences de l'OCDE, Paris, France. La page multimédia de la Conférence est disponible ici.
2009
6-8 décembre 2009
Enseignement supérieur lieux et espaces : pour l’apprentissage, l’innovation et l’échange de connaissances, 6-8 décembre 2009, Riga, Lettonie, coorganisée avec le CELE.
La conférence a examiné les tendances actuelles dans l’enseignement supérieur et la manière dont l’environnement construit devra soutenir ces changements. En mettant l’accent sur le développement durable de l’ environnement dans l’enseignement supérieur, le but de la conférence était de partager la connaissance sur les bonne pratiques et les installations innovantes pour l’apprentissage, l’innovation et les environnements pour le transfert des connaissances. Elle a également exploré l’impact des relations entre les communautés locales et nationales sur les espaces utilisés pour le transfert de connaissances. www.oecd.lu.lv. Contact: alastair.blyth@oecd.org.
12-13 octobre 2009
Conférence sur les innovations qui marchent: la qualité de l’enseignement dans le supérieur, Istanbul Technical University, Istanbul, Turquie. Cette conférence s'inscrit dans le projet de IMHE sur la qualité de l'enseignement dans le supérieur. Elle examinera les politiques et stratégies conçues et mises en œuvre par les établissements afin de promouvoir la qualité dans l’enseignement, les liens entre la qualité de l’enseignement, les résultats de l’apprentissage ainsi que l’impact des politiques et des initiatives nationales visant à améliorer la qualité de l’enseignement dans le supérieur. À travers des groupes de travail et des sessions interactives, cette conférence vise à mettre en lumière les initiatives les plus significatives et à promouvoir la réflexion sur le thème, dans le but d’améliorer sur le long terme la qualité de la formation et des acquis d’apprentissage. La conférence s’adresse aux leaders institutionnels, aux enseignants et chercheurs académiques, aux représentants des agences d’assurance qualité et organisations concernées par la qualité de l’enseignement, ainsi qu’aux étudiants. Contact: fabrice.henard@oecd.org.
10-11 Septembre 2009
Table ronde pour les régions participant aux études thématiques sur l'Enseignement Supérieur dans le Développement des Villes et des Espaces Régionaux, Centre de conférences de l'OCDE, Paris, France. La table ronde de l’OCDE pour les villes er régions a réuni presque 100 représentants de villes et régions participant à la deuxième série d’études thématiques de l’IMHE sur l’Enseignement Supérieur dans le Développement des Villes et des Espaces Régionaux. Cette réunion a permis de mettre l’accent sur les expériences de la région du Bío Bío au Chili, où l’étude a été menée en août. Par ailleurs, 5 nouvelles régions – Free State en Afrique du Sud, Valparaiso au Chili, Kuala Lumpur en Malaisie, New England aux États-Unis et Oulu en Finlande – se sont présentées. Les présentations de la réunion sont disponibles ici (en anglais).
28-30 juin 2009
Conférence internationale sur l’enseignement supérieur en temps de crise: Défis et opportunités, L’école de commerce de Copenhague, Danemark, en collaboration avec l’IMHE et l’OCDE. - Les PowerPoints de la Conférence sont disponibles ici et au Conférence internationale sur l’enseignement supérieur en temps de crise: Défis et opportunités- Les rapports de la Conférence (en anglais uniquement): The Economic Situation: Implications for Higher Education, Roundtable Copenhagen: Higher Education's Reponse to the Crisis, Impacts of the Crisis on Higher Education Institutions, Impact of The Crisis on Education at a Governmental Level, Working Groups on Identifying and Explaining Solutions. Ces documents sont également disponibles sur le educationtoday phare, un site web interactif traitant de l’impact de la crise sur l’éducation. Vous y trouverez aussi des Entretiens sur vidéo sur sur l’enseignement supérieur en temps de crise (en anglais). Pour accéder au phare: aller sur www.oecd.org/edu/phare. Contact: imhe@oecd.org.
2008
15 decembre 2008
Réunion sur l'étude sur la qualité dans le bien fondé dans l'enseignement superieur, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, Barcelone. Documents disponibles sur demande. Veuillez contacter: fabrice.henard@oecd.org.
8-10 septembre
Conférence Générale IMHE Enseignement supérieur: qualité, pertinence et im Paris, France.
10-11 septembre
Réunion de lancement du projet sur l'enseignement supérieur et les régions Paris, France.
5-6 juin 2008
Est-ce que la taille importe ? La compétition universitaire dans un marché mondialisé - en collaboration avec l’Association Nordique des Universités et l’Association Nordique des Administrateurs d’Universités, Reykjavik, Islande.
21-23 mai
Lieux et espaces durables pour l’apprentissage, l’innovation et le transfert de connaissances en collaboration avec le Programme de l’OCDE pour la construction et l’équipement de l’éducation (PEB) et l’Université de Technologie d’Helsinki, Finlande.
2007
19-21 septembre 2007
Concurrence mondiale, engagement local - Enseignement supérieur et régions. Conférence internationale– Valencia Espagne.
3-4 septembre  2007
Encourager succès et productivité: des outils pour que l’université devienne un lieu de travail attractif. Conférence « des innovations qui marchent - University of Cambridge, Harvard University, Universitas 21 and IMHE - Paris, France.
25-27 juin 2007
"Higher Education in the 21st Century – Diversity of Missions", IMHE DIT conference – Dublin – Ireland.
2006
4-5 decembre 2006
"Institutional Diversity: Rankings and Typologies in Higher Education", Bonn, Germany.
16-17 octobre 2006
"Supporting the Higher Education Institutions’ Contribution to Regional Development" - Wrap-up Conference for Participating Regions, Copenhague.
24-25 Août 2006
Conférence "des innovations qui marchent" Governing bodies of higher education institutions: Roles and responsibilities, OCDE, Paris.
29-30 mai 2006
Séminaire international " Les équipements de l’enseignement supérieur: questions et perspectives", Zacatecas, Mexique.
2005
4-5 octobre 2005
Séminaire international " The Role of Higher Education Institutions in Regional Development", université de Karlstad, Suède.
25-26 août 2005
Conférence sur "Les tendances de la gestion des ressources humaines dans l’enseignement supérieur" organisée les au siège de l’OCDE, Paris.
2004
13-15 septembre 2004
Conférence générale, "Choix et responsabilités: Enseignement supérieur et société du savoir", OCDE, Paris
26-27 août 2004
Séminaire sur la "communication dans l'enseignement supérieur: image et réalité", OCDE, Paris.
2003
28-29 août 2003
Séminaire sur "la gestion des écoles d'art", OCDE, Paris.
2002
26 et 27 août 2002
Séminaire sur "la gestion des bibliothèques universitaires", OCDE, Paris.

Autres conférences
2012
November

• EAPRIL 2012 Conference, Creating Competence - Innovations in Learning and Development, 28-30 November 2012, Jyväskylä, Finland
  www.eapril.org/EAPRIL2012
• The 7th European Quality Assurance Forum, How does quality assurance make a difference?, 22-24 November 2012, Tallinn University, Tallinn, Estonia
  www.eua.be/EQAF_Tallinn.aspx

December

• SRHE Newer Researchers Conference, 11 December 2012, Newport, Wales, United Kingdom. www.srhe.ac.uk/conference2012/

• SRHE Annual Research Conference, 12-14 December 2012, Newport, Wales, United Kingdom. www.srhe.ac.uk/conference2012/

2013
January

• Sixth EUA-CDE Workshop, Interdisciplinary Doctoral Programmes, 17-18 January 2013, Politecnico di Torino, Turin, Italy. www.eua.be/EUA-CDE-Turin.aspx
  May

• 6th International Barcelona Conference on Higher Education, Lets Build Transformative Knowledge to Drive Social Change, 13-15 May 2013, Barcelona, Spain
  www.guninetwork.org/guni.conference/2013-guni-conference

October

• 3rd Conference of the Americas (CAIE), 16-18 October 2013, Mexico. www.caie-caei.org/.

 

By Wessel Meijer. Have you recently started working in a managing position in an international office? Then you are undoubtedly faced with many challenges and issues: interesting ones and annoying ones. You will of course be competent enough to cope with the majority of these challenges yourself. However, there is always one issue that keeps on returning on your desk, that continues to chase you during the day or perhaps haunt you during the night. It could be related to strategy, organisation models, managing people, finance, time management, communication etc, perhaps even one of the following:

• My rector is not interested in internationalisation. How do I still gain his support?
• One of my staff members is ill for a long period, and I do not get a replacement. Help!
• One of my staff members is not motivated, underperforms and is counting his days for his retirement. How do I bring back some enthusiasm?
• I do not get enough money to achieve the objectives they expect me to achieve. What can I do?
• My management plans to mainstream internationalisation, which means breaking up my international office and scattering its bits and pieces all around the university. How do I stop them?
• My boss does not understand me, and does not want to listen. How do I catch the attention that I deserve?
• I create glossy folders, send weekly e-newsletters, tweet like crazy and administer an International Office Facebook account. And still the departments do not notice us.
• Yesterday the focus was on research partnerships in China, today we should put all priority on recruiting master students from Europe; and I was just informed that our future is solely dependent on the development of an International Summer School. How do I create one, long lasting, international strategy?

Do you recognise yourself in any of these dilemmas? Yes? The bad news is: this comes with the job of International Relations Manager, there is not much you can do about it. The good news is: there is help at hand, called ‘peer consulting’.
Peer consulting, what’s different?
Discussing your professional problems with colleagues that you trust, isn’t that as old as time? So what makes ‘peer consulting’ so different?

• You do not know your peers and they do not know you. Fresh, fair and unbiased advice is guaranteed.
• An environment facilitating combined knowledge and experience to trigger the best professional advice possible. Your peers all work in international offices, they know how things work. They are the best consultants, not theoretical academics that just talk in models.
• A context of strict confidentiality is provided. This creates an open atmosphere and stimulates a fair expression of ideas.
• A strict procedure is followed in order to get at the heart of the problem and to prevent pub talk solutions.

In the unlikely event that you are one of the unique international relations managers that never struggles with seemingly unsolvable problems, you will be the perfect peer consultant: helping your colleagues to solve their problems; and perhaps picking up interesting new knowledge and insights yourself.
What else is there?
Have you heard of the International Office (IO) managers’ tool box? It contains practical instruments ready to be used to create solutions for all sorts of problems you may encounter as an International Office Manager. Examples are:

• The Boat Game to create quick mutual understanding in a group.
• The SWOT Analysis to develop strategic priorities.
• The International Office Task List to rationalise the activities of an IO
• International Office Organisation Models to structure your office
• The core quadrant game to better understand your own qualities and pitfalls
• The leadership grid to make your leadership style explicit
• The priority matrix to use your precious time effectively

How do you solve your challenges in your international office? Have you ever practised peer consulting? In what kind of setting?
You can learn more about all these topics and experience peer consulting with professionals from across Europe by joining the EAIE Academy course ‘Managing an international office today’ in Porto from 19–21 November. Register by 29 October 2012 to secure your spot!
Wessel Meijer is Deputy Director of the International Office of Radboud University Nijmegen and leading the team ‘projects and networks’. He is also an EAIE Academy trainer.

Par Isabelle Rey-Lefebvre. Une communauté universitaire déstabilisée et divisée par les réformes et les nouveaux impératifs de gestion. C'est ce que révèlent quatre sociologues dans une enquête approfondie au moment même où se déroulent les Assises de l'enseignement supérieur et de la recherche.
Plan campus, loi sur l’autonomie, évaluation, recherche financée par appels d’offres, grand emprunt… Ces réformes, menées à marche forcée par le précédent gouvernement, ont créé « des tensions peu visibles, qui ne s’expriment pas dans la rue, entre les universitaires qui ont tiré bénéfice de ces réformes et les autres », analyse la sociologue Christine Musselin. Avec Stéphanie Chatelain-Ponroy, Stéphanie Mignot-Gérard et Samuel Sponem, elle a ausculté le moral de quelque 2 600 universitaires qui ont des responsabilités à tous les échelons: présidents, élus, directeurs de labos ou d’unité d’enseignement.
Des instances élues malmenées
La loi relative aux libertés et responsabilités des universités (dite "LRU") de 2007 sur l’autonomie a confié à leurs présidents les clefs des universités, dont la gestion du budget et la  répartition -cruciale- des moyens entre tous les services et départements. Le mode de scrutin leur assure, en outre, une très forte majorité, dans un conseil d’administration resserré, passé de 60 à 30 membres au plus.

29 October - 1 November 2012 - Ningbo, China. This year's event will mark the third anniversary of the International Leadership Conference, which will take place at The University of Nottingham Ningbo China. The conference, which takes place annually, has previously welcomed delegates from the UK, Denmark, China, Colombia, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, the US and Belgium. The event is designed for senior leaders to discuss and share best practice on important topics around the internationalisation of higher education.
"Attending the first 'International Leadership Conference: Managing Global Universities' in 2010 was of considerable value in developing the internationalisation strategy for the University of Reading. The week was a valuable mix of high-level strategic discussion and knowledge-sharing to gain practical insights from university leaders with experience of building and running campuses overseas.
I would recommend the opportunity to attend to anyone involved in planning and developing their institution's worldwide reach." Professor Steven Mithen, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for International and External Engagement at the University of Reading
"...it was a pleasure to join such a stimulating event." Phil Baty, Deputy Editor, Times Higher Education.
"...it was one of the better conferences I have ever been to." Professor Kristiaan Versluys, Director of Education, Ghent University Belgium.
The intensive four day programme is designed for senior managers and leaders from higher education institutions from across the world. It will take place at The University of Nottingham’s campus in Ningbo China, an extremely successful research-led UK university with an excellent reputation for global leadership and management.
Programme overview
During the four day programme a selection of the following will be covered in workshop and seminar sessions:
    * developing university strategy
    * different approaches to internationalisation
    * enterprise
    * effective financial management
    * development and fundraising
    * capital planning
    * building research capacity
    * leadership in an international context
    * quality, ratings and rankings
    * international partnership
    * leading innovation in teaching and learning
    * marketing on the global stage
    * global governance
To register your interest in the conference or for further details, please contact Ilze Skujina at ilze.skujina@nottingham.ac.uk.
See also International Leadership Conference: Managing Global Universities 2011 and International Leadership Conference: Managing Global Universities 2010.

DBA in Higher Education Management 10th Anniversary Conference. Monday 17th September, 2012. Hosted by International Centre for Higher Education Management (ICHEM), University of Bath.
Higher education is currently experiencing what has been described as a period of disruptive change. The significant forces from the external environment including the financial crisis and globalisation are impacting substantially on higher education. As well as these external factors higher education institutions are experiencing numerous disruptive forces including  dilution of funding sources, changing student demographics, questions regarding the quality and value of qualifications as well as increased competition within the sector. It has even been suggested that globally higher education is enmeshed in a crisis which some commentators have likened to the recent economic bubbles and which threaten the long term sustainability of higher education institutions and systems in their current form.
This conference looking at the impact of disruptive change on higher education institutions and the broader higher education sector internationally will feature keynote addresses by three respected international higher education experts, each with a different perspective on the challenges faced. The conference will feature interactive sessions examining how the forces of disruption are impacting the steering, governance, management and operation of institutions and systems of higher education.
As well as this conference there will also be:
A 10th anniversary dinner at 7.30pm on September 17th.
A DBA(HEM) Students, Alumni and Staff Seminar on September 18th.

The IMHE programme of work is defined around three or four main projects which typically last two or three years and lead to a publication, together with several ongoing activities.
These research activities are generally co-operative efforts, carried out by teams of experts. IMHE draws on the experience and knowledge available through consultancies and through contributions from its general membership.
Our main activities are:
The Assessment of Higher Education Learning Outcomes (AHELO)
The OECD is developing a feasibility study for assessment of higher education outcomes that will allow comparison between higher education institutions across countries. This is done in the context of massive growth in higher education, and increasing international attention to comparisons between institutions. Secretariat contact Karine Tremblay: karine.tremblay@oecd.org.
Higher Education in Regional and City Development
Higher education institutions make a significant contribution to economic, social and cultural development in their regions. In 2004-07, OECD conducted a review of higher education in 14 regions in 12 countries which resulted in recommendations for HEIs as well as for national and regions governments. In 2008-11 the OECD conducted Reviews of Higher Education in Regional and City Development in 14 regions within the OECD as well as emerging economies. The third round is now ongoing, but more regions can sign up for the reviews that have been designed to benefit mainly regions and cities having IMHE member institutions. Secretariat contact Jaana Puukka: jaana.puukka@oecd.org.
Managing Internationalisation
An important aspect of IMHE’s work in the coming two years will be a study on how the increasingly global nature of higher education is changing the ways in which institutions view their role and mission, and how that affects the way they work. Secretariat contact: imhe@oecd.org.
Supporting Quality Teaching in Higher Education
The project on quality teaching in higher education is meant to highlight effective quality initiatives and mechanisms and to push forward reflection or practices that may in turn help other institutions to improve the quality of their teaching and thereby, the quality of their graduates. The project is composed of 2 phases: an overview based on initiatives taken by 29 institutions (completed) and an exploration of approaches to quality teaching at institutional level (ongoing project).
In the context of the sustained growth and diversification of higher education systems, society’s concerns about the quality of the education offered to the students are increasing. The goal of the OECD-IMHE study on Quality teaching is to highlight effective quality initiatives and mechanisms and to push forward reflection or practices that may in turn help other institutions to improve the quality of their teaching and thereby, the quality of their graduates. In participating in the project, the institutions take part in an international review that collects information and benchmarks for their own purpose regarding the quality of their teaching. Secretariat contact Fabrice Henard: fabrice.henard@oecd.org.
"What Works" in Higher Education Management
Under this heading IMHE arranges a series of international events on different aspects of institutional management. The events are designed to assist Member institutions by reviewing current policy and practice and by disseminating examples of successful innovation. They provide professional development for participants, and can lead to the publication of reports and/or the creation of informal networks. Secretariat contact: imhe@oecd.org.
Innovation, Higher Education and Research for Development (IHERD)
The IHERD Programme comprises two sub-Programmes: i) research and innovation policy; and ii) higher education governance and institutional management. The OECD Programme on Higher Education and Research for Development (IHERD) is supported by a four-year voluntary contribution from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida).

SUNY – IMHE Conference - New York, 12-13 April
With more HEIs developing effective and substantive internationalisation strategies coupled with the current economic crisis underscoring the greater meaning of a “global economy”, it is essential to examine the successes, attempts and failures of such strategies. The State University of New York (SUNY) and the OECD’s Programme on the Institutional Management in Higher Education (IMHE) held a conference in New York on 12 and 13 April 2013 to provide participants with models to apply or cases to consider that would transform national dialogue as well as support innovation and job creation.
How can the internationalisation of higher education institutions support economic development in the 21st century? Future challenges will require comprehensive solutions that can best be addressed by higher education systems. Creative and effective approaches were highlighted keeping in mind the urgency of implementing new strategies in a time of global economic crisis. Job creation, economic recovery policy and human capital development were at the core of the discussion. The interplay of public policy, academia, business and industry is key. Government and system policies must aim to maximise the benefits of internationalisation and reap the rewards of participating in the new economic/societal paradigms.
The main obstacles to overcome identified during the conference were:
- Cultural and linguistic barriers: how to best integrate international students and maximise their presence at the university; how to make the most of their contribution to internationalisation at home?
- Organisational constraints: not all institutions are international-ready in terms of support to international students, faculty and administrative staff so that they may be fully globally-minded.
- Quality assurance remains limited on the internationalisation aspects of higher education and should be broader in scope to better capitalise on internationalisation for educational and economic purposes.
- Despite growing student mobility flows, few students are in fact concerned by internationalisation in their daily life. Statistically, only 2% of students are counted as international students, while many are excluded from the mobility phenomenon (e.g. life long learners). In addition, the curriculum and teaching process have not all incorporated internationalisation into the institutional culture or their programmes and often remain nationally-bound.
- There are many ways to move forward. Streamlining and combining these paths would be advantageous and efficient so as to maximise benefits. For example, a national or regional framework comprising clusters of institutions and private players fosters the instrumental role of internationalisation for economic purposes. It is essential for institutions to forge partnerships with companies, no matter the size as long as they are locally engaged and globally developed. Within institutions, university leaders should motivate staff to constantly
incorporate international aspects at all levels, including teachers-on-the-job and support staff. Champions should be identified and valued.
University leaders and governments are facing the challenge of harnessing the driving role internationalisation plays in boosting economic growth and job creation. Internationalisation is complex mainly due to the inconsistent interaction of multiple players having their own particular strategies. The valuable concept of systemness by which institutions, possibly in collaboration with public authorities and corporations, could streamline and cross-fertilize their interventions within a network of activity. The creation, by universities, of long-term internationalisation strategies and complying with the golden triangle, “Missions-values-partnerships”, has proven effective. Incorporating the global-mindset as from K-12 is one way in which to infuse international interests into our future students. Lastly, no progress will be made without a set of reliable quantitative and qualitative measures of the impacts of internationalisation.
Given the current economic crisis underscoring the extent, depth and meaning of “a global economy”, we need to examine the successes, attempts and failures of HEIs in the development of effective and substantive internationalisation strategies. Based on what has worked, what hasn’t worked and what might work, the SUNY-OECD conference provided participants with models to apply or cases to consider that can inform their national dialogue and support innovation in internationalisation.
The Conference examined the ways in which internationalisation in and of colleges, universities and higher education systems can be leveraged to support economic development in the 21 st century. Creative and effective approaches will be highlighted against the urgency of implementing new strategies in a time of global economic crisis, with job creation, economic recovery policy and human capital development and, above all, innovation at the core of the discussion. The interplay between public policy, academia, and business and industry is key. Government and system policies should aim to maximise the benefits of internationalisation and reap the rewards from participating in the new economic/societal paradigms.
Likewise, academics and institutions should be able to optimise government policies and implement the best international strategy involving the entire community. Industry and services development models need to support and capitalise on government policies. While the university-industry relationship has been on the agenda for some time, until recently government, industry and academia have operated in separate spheres of authority.
Looking forward, economists and policy planners have identified these three aspects of what is termed the triple helix of innovation as more inter-related, and deeply integrated in partnerships for learning, development and application. Internationalisation is an aspect of this new relationship that must be considered as a means of facilitating and promoting a more dynamic convergence of interests and activities.
Core questions

• How can internationalisation help colleges and universities, higher education systems, governments and industry foster the balance of competition and co-operation required for job creation, innovation and regional economic development?
• What role can higher education system leaders play in helping institutions pursue internationalisation strategies, both collectively and individually?
• To what extent is regulating, monitoring and evaluating the internationalisation of higher education important to government and industry at a time of economic globalisation?  How can higher education partnerships with government/industry lead to more effective co-operation and collaboration in terms of policy and practice?
• How can the ethos, mindset and approaches of the innovation partners be better geared to the new paradigms of the global economy?
• Where does the internationalisation of higher education fit into the contemporary portrait of the educated, competent and skilled citizen of the 21st century? 

What Works?

The OECD What Works conferences have been a successful series of workshops and meetings designed to assist member institutions by reviewing current policy and practice while disseminating examples of successful innovation. They are intended to equip participants with clear-cut examples of institutional strategy development, as well as provide an understanding of the conditions for implementation, the context, and the measurement and assessment of impact.

For further information contact: Fabrice.Henard@oecd.org.
Related documents: