International

Central to Emerson’s internationalization plan is a set of global learning outcomes, which have been integrated into a broader set of learning outcomes that address Emerson’s core educational mission. All students benefit from global learning opportunities, and student learning remains at the heart of the institution’s internationalization efforts.

To preserve the benefits that international education has afforded us, we must reverse the current trend of a diminishing share of international students seeking a U.S. education, write Gretchen Bataille and Brad Farnsworth.

The Western Balkans region of Southeast Europe, encompassing the seven countries of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo, Montenegro and Serbia), is still a largely overlooked part of Europe when it comes to higher education reform. Lucia Brajkovic looks at how capacity-building projects and international strategic partnerships play a crucial role in institutional change strategies at institutions in these countries.

Strategic international partnerships are a hot topic in higher education right now. Collectively, we seem to be moving away from an initial philosophy of “let’s sign as many MOUs with foreign institutions as we can,” to an approach that emphasizes careful planning, deliberate action, and attention to quality, depth, and sustainability. Now that we’re headed down this path, however, the nuances of what we mean by “strategic” are increasingly important.

In keeping with Johnson & Wales University’s mission of encouraging cross-cultural engagement to prepare students for the global workforce and civic life, JWU leaders undertook a strategic plan in 2012 that incorporated recommendations from ACE’s At Home in the World: initiative. Shelley Stephenson and Loren Intolubbe-Chmil discuss an innovative international program at an innovative institution.

With Colombia’s annual GDP growth of 4.8 percent between 2010 and 2014 and the final elements of the peace process falling into place, the dust of turmoil is settling—which will have an impact on higher education partnerships with the country.  Heather Ward reports on her recent trip to Bogotá to assess how to strengthen collaboration between U.S. and Colombian institutions.