UCN European Programmes
About · Global Context

Global Context of our Institution

A study on the understanding of Internationalisation of Higher Education in the European context, based on two surveys, an analysis of the role of digital learning, ten national reports from Europe and seven from outside Europe.

A study on the understanding of Internationalisation of Higher Education in the European context, based on two surveys, an analysis of the role of digital learning, ten national reports from Europe and seven from outside Europe. The study results in conclusions and recommendations on the future of Internationalisation of Higher Education in Europe, based on the national reports and a Delphi process among experts in international higher education.

Ten key developments for Europe and the rest of the world are identified in the study:

Ten key developments
  1. 01
    Growing importance of internationalisation at all levels

    Broader range of activities, more strategic approaches, emerging national strategies and ambitions.

  2. 02
    Increase in institutional strategies for internationalisation

    Including risks of homogenisation and focus on quantitative results only.

  3. 03
    Challenge of funding everywhere

    Pressure on public and private resources across regions.

  4. 04
    Trend towards increased privatisation in IoHE

    Revenue generation as a driver of internationalisation.

  5. 05
    Competitive pressures of globalisation

    Increasing convergence of aspirations, if not yet actions.

  6. 06
    Evident shift from (only) cooperation to (more) competition

    Strategic repositioning among institutions.

  7. 07
    Emerging regionalisation

    Europe is often seen as an example.

  8. 08
    Numbers rising everywhere

    Challenge of quantity versus quality.

  9. 09
    Lack of sufficient data

    For comparative analysis and decision-making.

  10. 10
    Emerging areas of focus

    Internationalisation of the curriculum, transnational education, and digital learning.

Source: European Union, 2015. Internationalisation of Higher Education. Study. Policy Department B: Structural and Cohesion Policies. European Parliament. B-1047 Brussels. Print ISBN 978-92-823-7847-2 doi: 10.2861/6854 QA-02-15-573-EN-C. PDF ISBN 978-92-823-7846-5 doi: 10.2861/444393 QA-02-15-573-EN-N. This document is available on the Internet at: europarl.europa.eu/studies