Content
Internationalisation - Governing Policy
Responsible officer: Vice-Chancellor and President
Designated officer: Pro Vice-Chancellor (International and Quality)
Approval authority: Council
Approval: 30 October 2007
Last amended: Vice-Chancellor 15 February 2008
Effective starting date: 31 October 2007
Any policies replaced by this policy:
- Statement on Internationalisation
Policy number: G10
Related policies:
Due date for review: 29 October 2012
Part A: Preliminary
1. Purpose of policy
The following policy is intended to enunciate the broad framework and principles for internationalisation of the University of the Sunshine Coast.
2. Application of policy
This policy applies to all staff, students and members of University decision-making or advisory bodies.
3. Definitions
In this policy the following definition applies:
Internationalisation of the curriculum means development of a University curriculum that enables students to:
- identify and explore the interconnections between and across the diversity of places, peoples, societies, cultures, and systems in the world
- contextualise themselves in that world
- assess the relevance of that world to their current and future selves,and
- position themselves and their futures within that international context
Part B: Policy
1. What is meant by internationalisation?
1.1 Internationalisation at the University is the creation and integration of pedagogies, research cultures and engagement practices that:
- develop University staff, students and graduates as global citizens and learners
- prepare University graduates for successful participation in transnational labour markets and the global economy
- contribute to the achievement of international standards in research and teaching
- secure opportunities for University staff to develop as internationally relevant and respected researchers and teachers
- facilitate internationally significant research and other projects that advance the region
- facilitate the development of productive links between the regional community and international communities
1.2 The broad framework for internationalisation at the University is:
- internationalisation of the curriculum
- domestic student participation in overseas study programs
- international students studying and researching on campus – diversity, number, distribution and proportion of total student body
- international collaborations in learning and teaching, research, engagement, information services, information technology services and other support areas
1.3 The primary purpose of internationalisation at the University is to contribute academic, economic, and cultural benefit to the University, particularly to its students and staff, and to its community and region, with reciprocal benefit to the international community.
2. Informing principles – benefit and assurance of benefit
2.1 Benefit is the fundamental guiding principle that must underpin and shape all internationalisation activities of the University.
(a) Benefit for students
There must be direct and tangible benefits for students, domestic and international, flowing from internationalisation, and these will include opportunity to
- have a study experience at an overseas university of international standing
- have research training experience at an overseas university or research institute of international standing
- be taught by world-class academics from a high quality international university undertaking sabbaticals or exchanges at the University
- be co-supervised by world-class international researchers
- experience world-class teaching programs co-developed by international universities and the University of the Sunshine Coast
- better understand different peoples, cultures and cultural perspectives
- better understand and respond to changes, challenges and issues that impact on them and others globally and regionally
- better position themselves for life, mobility and success in employment, career advancement and further education in a global society
- forge international friendships
(b) Benefit for staff and participatory university visitors
There must be benefits from internationalisation for domestic and international staff and participatory university visitors, including opportunity:
- for career and professional development through
- undertaking teaching or conducting research or participating in other activities at or in collaboration with colleagues from overseas universities or other organisations
- participating in international networks, associations, conferences and forums alongside leading international educators, scholars, researchers and other practitioners
- to better position themselves for life, mobility and success in employment, career advancement and continuing education in a global society
- to better understand different peoples, cultures and cultural perspectives
- to better understand and respond to changes, challenges and issues that impact on them and others globally and regionally
- to forge international friendships
(c) Institutional benefit
In addition to benefits for students and staff, internationalisation activities must be designed to benefit the University institutionally, for example by:
- increasing global awareness of the University and its distinctiveness, thereby contributing, in turn, to attracting international students, staff and visitors, and to the creation of productive international partnerships in research, teaching and other areas
- demonstrating to the international community the quality of education, research and other activities of the University
- demonstrating to the international community the international contextualisation and relevance of the University’s curriculum (internationalisation of the curriculum)
- accelerating identification and adoption of international best practice in higher education administrative and support services
- protecting and advancing the University’s international reputation
- contributing to University revenue through such means as international student fees, international research and consultancy income, and international commercialisation of research and development products
(d) Benefit for region
Internationalisation activities must be designed to benefit the region, for example by:
- enriching cultural diversity and cultural understanding within the region
- enriching the intellectual climate of the region through opportunity for the regional community and regional leaders to interact with outstanding international scholars and practitioners
- contributing to the preparation of graduates who are well positioned to participate in regional employment or business generation within international market economies
- through research and development links established by the University, creating and strengthening productive partnerships across and between regional and international organisations and international universities
- raising global awareness of the region as a potential education, work, business, tourism and residency destination.
(e) Other benefit
In addition to the benefits previously outlined, internationalisation activities should be designed to:
- benefit overseas higher education institutions and related agencies with which the University develops links and partnerships
- benefit Australia by advancing and protecting its interests and reputation as a major international provider of higher education
- contribute to the development of other nations, their regions and their peoples
- contribute to the creation of an international community that respects and values diversity.
2.2 To assure the intended benefits from its internationalisation activities, the University must have in place:
(a) strategies for resourcing the range of activities that constitute internationalisation of the University
(b) information and support schemes and services needed to enable domestic and international students, domestic and international staff, and international university visitors to participate in internationalisation activities
(c) rigorous processes for ensuring the quality and international relevance of its education and research programs, the quality of its teaching and research supervision, and the quality of its services
(d) a rigorous risk management and due diligence framework for evaluating all potential international partners and partnerships, including international agents or brokers, and for regular review of levels of risk associated with its established international partners and partnerships, and
(e) processes for ensuring that its international activities comply with:
(i) the Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000, Education Services for Overseas Students Regulations 2001, Education Services for Overseas Students (Assurance Fund Contributions) Act 2000; and the National Code of Practice for Registration Authorities and Providers of Education and Training to Overseas Students; and
(ii) all other relevant legislation and external compliance requirements, and any international agreements or conventions, that apply in each jurisdiction.
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