Internationalization of education is ... Tools for managing the process of internationalization in education

In recent decades, the internationalization of higher education has become the leading trend that underlines the development of globalization processes. Not only individual universities or organizations joined it, but entire states as well. This is not surprising, since the internationalization of the education system can yield significant benefits. And not only in the form of an influx of foreign students. This process gives a serious impetus to the development of both the higher education system of the whole state, and a single institution of higher education that wants to be competitive.

The concept of internationalization of education

It appeared relatively recently - at the end of the last century, but quickly enough became the main characteristic of the integration processes taking place in this sphere. It was based on various ideas of international cooperation in the field of education, most of which have already been implemented as a different kind of programs.

We can say that the internationalization of education is a process, the essence of which lies in the active introduction of the international component into all the functional areas of the university. That is, it affects not only educational activities, but also research, and even administrative. The authors of articles on internationalization emphasize its connection with all the functions of the educational process and note the existence of a complex character of this influence.

Forms of cooperation

It should be noted that the internationalization of education is a process that includes a variety of formats for international interaction:

• Mobility with an educational purpose: this includes not only students and faculty, but also representatives of the university administration;
• The introduction of such types of mobility, both institutional and programmatic, on the basis of various training tools;
• Compilation of updated educational standards on the basis of samples of the international level and their inclusion in the curricula of universities;
• Creation of various forms of long-term partnership in the institutional sphere of education.

Considering all these types of international cooperation, it is necessary to pay attention to the fact that the internationalization of education is a process that encompasses not only external forms in the form of study abroad. This is also a complex internal transformation. It covers all types of activities of higher education institutions and directs them towards international cooperation.

Implementation strategies

To date, the world practice has developed various strategies that are developing on the basis of a trend such as the internationalization of the educational process. Depending on the motives for implementation, they can be formed into four groups.

1. The strategy of a coordinated approach is based on long-term international cooperation. It is realized by increasing the mobility of both students and teachers, exchange programs, partnership agreements. The fundamental position of this strategy is not competition, but the establishment of cooperation.
2. A strategy that supports the migration of leading foreign specialists and gifted students. The host country, striving to improve its competitiveness, creates a number of conditions for them: academic scholarships, a simplified visa regime and immigration regulations.
3. Profitable strategy. It is also based on attracting qualified specialists with the only difference that there are no benefits, and education is provided on a fee basis. The influx of foreign students makes it possible for universities to organize business.
4. Advanced capabilities strategy. Called to encourage the receipt of education abroad or in domestic universities that provide such services. The implementation levers here are activities aimed at supporting the mobility of students, scientists, teachers and civil servants.

Levels of internationalization management

Today, it becomes obvious that even global processes need regulation, and that it includes not only specific enterprises or organizations, but also the state itself.

What has been said fully applies to the phenomena that reflect the current trend in the internationalization of education. There are three main levels of management:

• state;
• regional;
• High school.

Each has its own strategy and management tools. The state, forming a strategy for the development of this process, should take into account not only the trends of the existing foreign experience, but also the specificity of its cultural environment, the potential of higher education institutions, their material base. At this level, tools and norms are created that allow universities to effectively develop towards internationalization.

The regional level is called upon to form, so to speak, "on the spot" those conditions and infrastructure that will not only allow the educational institutions and other related institutions to develop dynamically, but also create comfortable conditions for foreign students.

The most precise tools for managing the process of internationalization in education can be reflected precisely at the level of the educational institution.

Management Tools

They can be developed in a complex or implemented at different levels of management separately.

1. Invitation for cooperation of international experts. The direction of their activities may be different: as an expert in educational programs or participation in the development of the institution's development strategy.
2. Development of such an element as international competencies. This tool refers not only to the teaching staff, but also to all who will somehow be involved in the educational process.
3. Formation of institutional partnership with advanced foreign educational centers.
4. Inclusion in the activities of a professional association or network for the promotion of an educational institution in the international educational market.
5. Participation of the university in international rankings.
6. Development of various educational projects jointly with other educational institutions of the country and abroad.
7. Development and implementation of research programs with foreign partners.
8. Conducting international accreditation. Certification of the quality of education based on world standards.

The presented list can be continued, since the internationalization of education is a process of development that constantly opens up new and diverse forms of cooperation.

Management Effectiveness Factors

Here two groups of factors play a role: internal and external. The first includes the potential of a higher educational institution: material and technical equipment, the level of development of the teaching staff, and so on.

The second is implemented at the state level. It covers political and socio-economic conditions. In the first case, a decisive role is played by policies implemented in the sphere of education. Today, it acquires a clearer focus and offers new efficient tools for implementing internationalization.

Accounting for socio-economic conditions is based on demographic, geographic and economic data, which must also be taken into account when developing and implementing the strategy for the development of education.

Internal resources of development

At the university level, the success of internationalization is determined by its capabilities:

• The level of knowledge of a foreign language ;
• Availability of high-quality profile programs that will allow the institution to find its own sphere and offer educational services there;
• Cooperation with foreign higher educational institutions;
• Experience of international activities.

An important place here is the presence of an adequate development strategy and the desire to follow it.

The role in the development of world processes

Modern trends, reflecting the direction of the development of the modern world, prompt attention to the correlation of such processes as globalization and the internationalization of education. Both are related in some way. A vivid and ambiguous trend characterizing modern transformations, globalization affects virtually all spheres of human life, including education.

In itself this concept is used by some researchers to characterize globalization, which is represented as the process of internationalization of various areas of life: economic, technological, cultural, commercial, etc.

This allows us to define globalization as the root cause and the foundation for transforming learning systems. Therefore, the internationalization of education is an important component of the development of global processes, which includes not only different educational institutions, but also whole states in the process.

Internationalization as a factor of development

It is from such positions that it is proposed to consider this process, since this way it can be presented as an effective tool that stimulates the achievement of such goals:

• Increase in the level of teaching;
• Development of various forms of research work;
• The opportunity to choose and use the best examples of international experience;
• The growth of the number of competitive advantages of the university both on the domestic market and on the external one - international.

These are general directions of the development of the educational institution, which wants to find its place in the global educational process.

They should be specified and displayed in strategic directions of the university development, which are determined on the basis of potential. Here you also need to specify your idea of a place in the global system, to establish that it will be: world level, sectoral or, possibly, regional.