This document discusses internationalization in higher education and quality assurance. It outlines four key topics: 1) internationalization as a way to decrease risks and increase benefits, 2) external stakeholders' growing focus on quality assurance of internationalization, 3) the need for a shared vision of internationalization across higher education institutions, and 4) collaborative approaches to quality assurance such as evaluating joint degrees. The document emphasizes internationalization as a process of continuous self-evaluation and improvement.

1. IAU 14th General Conference, 27-30
November 2012
Towards a quality culture for
internationalization
Patricia Pol, Université Paris-Est, IAU
Board member, AERES - France
pol@u-pec.fr
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2. Outlines
1. A matter of decreasing risks and enhancing
benefits ?
2. An increasing concern for external stakeholders
3. A shared vision for HEIs and a necessity to promote
self evaluation processes
4. An attitude towards cooperative approaches : the
case of joint degrees
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3. 1. A matter of risks and
benefits ?
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4. 4
© IAU – October

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6. 2. An increasing concern for
external stakeholders
1. The « integrated approach » : the international
dimension is included in the existing guidelines of
quality assurance agencies :
Programmes evaluation or accrdeditation
Institutional evaluation
Research units evaluation
(case of the French agency AERES till 2012)
 Accountability / Improvement
6 IAU 14th General Conference, Puerto Rico, 27-30 November 2012

7. 2. An increasing concern
for external stakeholders
2. The « international-focused approach » : with
specific instruments
Codes (code of ethical practice in international education
(Canada-1996), to international students (Australia- 1998)
Reviews (IQR, Internationalisation quality review,OECD-
1999)
Mapping and benchmarking (IMPI- Indicators for measuring
and profiling internationaliation, 2012)
Advisory services (ISAS-AIU- 2010)
Quality label for internationalization of institutions and
programmes (NVAO-2012)
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8. 3. A shared vision for
HEIs
Quality Culture and internationalisation
- An issue of shared values, principles and
attitudes at all levels of HEIs (and not only staff or
students involved in international, mobility or quality
matters)
- A policy and set of strategical approaches
(rational / « chemin faisant »)
- A learning process and a tool for reflection
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9. 3. Necessity to promote self
evaluation processes
A learning process through self evaluation
What does internationalisation mean for the community ?
What are we trying to do at international level, where do
we want to go and how ?
How do we know it works ?
How do we change in order to improve ?
 The choice of a specific or an integrated approach can
depend on the degree or « maturity » of
internationalisation
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10. 3. A shared vision and
self evaluation processes
An issue of indicators
Attitude indicators
Export-import strategies / cooperation strategies (development of
joint programmes/branch campuses, strategic partnership,
membership in international networks)
Internationalization of staff in the decision bodies, among faculty
members, Language skills of the curricula and staff,
 Ethnocentric, Regiocentric, Polycentric
(see H.W. Perlmutter, 1974 analysing the Multinational
Firms)
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11. 3. Self evaluation
processes
Structural indicators
Numbers of agreements , rates of international students, in coming
out-going mobility (staff and students), part of the budget dedicated
to internationalization, size of the international office, number of
international publications, research projects…
Performance indicators % fund raising, evolution of the
position in the international rankings? Income generated
 Tools for benchmarking, mapping and understanding evolutions
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12. 4. A collaborative approach :
the case of the evaluation of
joint degrees
Some key issues
What is the added value of a joint degree ?
How to set up and assess « jointness criteria » ?
How to move towards joint evaluation or mutual
recognition between quality assurance agencies ?
 Towards specific guidelines ?
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13. Focusing on the major issues. Critical Paths.
Start at the Beginning – Develop Logically and Strategically (EMQA-UE)
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14. Concluding
considerations
A culture can’t be decided by decret but quality can
be enhanced through :
- A collective responsility (HEIs leaders and staff
at each level, students, associations, policy
makers, quality assurance agencies)
- Policies, strategies and tools for internal and
external quality processes
No one best way to assess internationalization but
fit for purpose
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15. References
Measuring and assessing internationalization, Madeleine Green,
NAFSA, 2012
Internationalisation of higher education in Europe and
its assessment, trends and issues, Hans de Wit, NVAO
2012
Global and regional trends in internationalization, threat to or
improvement of quality ? Patricia Pol, INQAAHE-ENQA seminar,
Brussels, 2011
www.IMPI-toolbox.che.de
www.ecaconsortium.net/main/projects/joqar
www.emqa.eu
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