The development and promotion of internationalization of higher education institutions - The role of European networks

1. THE DEVELOPMENT AND PROMOTION OF INTERNATIONALIZATION
OF HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS - THE ROLE OF EUROPEAN
NETWORKS
THE CASE OF SPACE NETWORK
Anabela Mesquita
SPACE network

2. AUTHOR
 PhD in Information Systems and Technologies
 Vice Dean of one of the schools of the Polytechnic
Institute of Porto
 Director of CICE research Centre
 Editor in chief of IJTHI
 AE for IRMJ, JCIT
 President of SPACE network
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3. AGENDA
 Introduction
 Importance of internationalisation
 Strategies to internationalise
 Benefits of networking
 International networks
 SPACE network – particular example
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4. INTRODUCTION
 Higher Education Institutions are more and more facing several challenges
 need to create entrepreneurial mind-sets,
 to stimulate business creation
 generate and exploit new ideas.
 In order to cope with these challenges, many HEI have developed different
and innovative approaches:
 new strategies for teaching,
 connection with business
 internationalisation
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5. IMPORTANCE OF INTERNATIONALISATION
 Internationalisation is very important for any HEI
 As HEInnovate says:
 It was “identified as one of the characteristics of an “entrepreneurial higher
education institution”.
 And “It is not possible for a higher education institution to be
entrepreneurial without being international, but the HEI can be
international without being entrepreneurial, innovative” (HEInnovate).
https://heinnovate.eu/
Self assessment tool created by the European Commission and the OECD. It facilitates the assessment of
an HEI in a systematic way, opening up discussion and debate on the entrepreneurial and innovative
nature of higher education institutions.
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6. STRATEGIES TO INTERNATIONALISE
Extra-curricular strategies
(International student advisers; orientation
programmes; social events and other
social facilities for foreign guests;
international students associations;
international houses for students and
scholars; institutional facilities)
Research
(Centres of excellence; incorporation of an international
perspective into existing research centres and programme;
collaboration with international partners;
comparative approaches; dissemination of research results
and sharing of knowledge (networks, reviews,
publications, databases, conferences, seminars, workshops,
colloquia); establishment of networks; research
mobility)
Technical support
(Training of staff and students; curriculum
advising; research training; sending books and
equipment; support)
Education
(Foreign languages studies; recruitment of foreign students
for full degree programmes; study abroad opportunities;
international cooperation agreements; mobility; joint or
Internationalisatio
n
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7. BENEFITS OF NETWORKING
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8. 10 BENEFITS OF NETWORKS
1. Shared knowledge – helps to expand knowledge and allow to see things from
another perspective. To learn and avoid pitfalls
2. Opportunities
3. Connections – building connections
4. Increase confidence – by pushing yourself to talk to people you do not know
it will help to increase your confidence
5. Raising your profile – being visible and getting noticed
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9. 10 BENEFITS OF NETWORKS
6. Advice and support – networking will give you the opportunity to get advice
from your peers
7. Positive influence – surround yourself with positive, uplifting people that
help you to grow and thrive
8. Satisfaction from helping others
9. Friendship
10. Get fresh ideas – source of new perspectives and ideas
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10.  Networks of higher education institutions
 can be a possible solution for HEI to start and accomplish their internationalisation
strategy. There are several possibilities
 closer look into one of these European networks and analyse their activities and
see how this can happen
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11. INTERNATIONAL NETWORKS
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12. EURASHE
 European Association of
Institutions in Higher Education
that offer professionally
orientated programmes and are
engaged in applied research
within the Bologna cycles.
 EURASHE represents
universities of applied
sciences and university
colleges.
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13. EUA
 Representative organisation of
universities and national
rectors’ conferences in 47
European countries. EUA plays
a crucial role in the Bologna
Process and in influencing EU
policies on higher education,
research and innovation.
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14. BUSINET
 Network of international higher education
institutes that share a common ethos
regarding internationalization.
 It provides an environment that encourages the
sharing of good practice and encourages co-
operation between like-minded individuals and
link minded organisations.
 Working groups
 Conferences
 Other events
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15. ACINET
 Network of HEI mostly from south america and
Portugal although not closed from members
from other countries.
 Conference
 Publications
 Other events
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16. POD NETWORK
 The vision of the Professional
and Organizational Development
Network in Higher Education is
for all institutions of higher
education to value, promote, and
reward teaching as a core
scholarly activity that is informed
by research and reflection and
which results in deep learning for
all students.
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17. EAIE
 Organisation serving
individuals actively involved in
the internationalisation of
their institutions through a
combination of training,
conferences and knowledge
acquisition and sharing.
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18. NAFSA
 World's largest nonprofit
association dedicated to
international education and
exchange.
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19. SPACE NETWORK
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20. ANABELA MESQUITA 20

21. WHO THEY ARE (PRESENT)
 The SPACE network is an international network of predominantly professional higher
education institutions including universities and VET schools servicing researchers, teachers
and students on levels 5, 6 and 7, in the field of (broad sense) business, languages,
entrepreneurship and hospitality.
 It provides participation in a wide range of prestigious projects and also
assistance concerning the submission and management of European projects, new teaching
& learning and conceptual and applied research/innovation, besides being a space for
sharing and dissemination of new teaching and learning materials and methodologies,
research & innovation, and outcomes of projects.
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22. ANABELA MESQUITA 22

23. ACTIVITIES (ADDRESSING NEEDS OF ALL TARGETS)
 International conference
 Targets: researchers, teachers, students
 Format: academic paper, pedagogical cases, business cases, posters
 Allows disseminating results, ideas, projects. Promotes the contact between
researchers, collaboration. Emergence of ideas for future projects; building trust
and confidence. Allows knowing better partners.
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24. ANNUAL CONFERENCE
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25.  Journal of advances in higher education
 Targets: researchers, teachers, students
 Publication of research and pedagogical experiences;
dissemination of research results. Usually there is a special issue
with the best papers of the conference.
 Possibility to prepare special issues of other journals
(indexed) with thematic papers presented in the conference.
Ex: International Journal of Technology and Human
Interaction
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26.  Projects
 Targets: researchers, teachers
 Support in the preparation of projects prospoals, submission of project’s proposal, find
partners, involvement in projects leaded or preapared by SPACE.
 Elearning
 Target: teachers
 Elearning courses prepared by members at the disposal of partners. Sharing
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27.  Special activities / events
 Targets: teachers, researchers, students
 Focused in certain topics allowing partners to share their experiences, doubts, concerns.
 Ex: MACOMIP – mini intensive programme about marketing communications. Last topic:
“Healthy food for young people” – preparation of a marketing communication plan
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28.  Meetings (focused on certain topics).
 Targets: researchers, IO staff
 Ex: preparation of project proposals, students competition
 Intermediary
 SPACE belongs to other networks (ex: EURASHE) which allows members to have a voice in
those networks even not being a member there
 Right place to find partners for exchange of students, teachers and staff and prepare
agreements
 Facilitates to build trust and confidence among partners (ex: case of the double
diploma)
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29.  Communication – email + newsletters
(dissemination of information from members
to members) – website, Facebook profile
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30. Newsletter
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31. Members’ private area
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32. ADVANTAGES OF BELONGING TO AN INTERNATIONAL NETWORKS
Extra-curricular strategies
Contributes to:
Find international student advisers;
organize orientation programmes and
share good practices; help students to
create and learn about international
students associations
Research
Contributes to:
Promote international collaboration between researchers;
allows to incorporate na international perspective in the
HEI and research centres and programmes; promotes the
collaboration among international partners; helps
comparative studies; dissemination of research results and
sharing of knowledge (reviews, publications, databases,
conferences, seminars, workshops, colloquia); promotes
research mobility)
Technical support
Allos to share good practices and ideas
Education
Students exchange; foreign languages studies; recruitment
of foreign students for full degree programmes;
opportunities; international cooperation agreements;; joint
SPACE
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33. CONCLUSION
 Entrepreneurship and internationalisation of HEI are necessary
 Possible solution – international networks due to its advantages
 There are several solutions / networks adapted to the needs of each HEI. Usually it is
advisable to belong to more than one network since they may be specific
 Example of SPACE network
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34. INVITE YOU TO TAKE A LOOK AT OUR FACEBOOK AND WEBSIT
 https://www.facebook.com/www.spaceuniversities.info/
 http://www.space-network.org/
 President of SPACE network
 Anabela Mesquita – sarmento@iscap.ipp.pt
 Secretarial services
 Julie Verstraeten - julie.verstraeten@space-network.org
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35. ?
Thank you
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