Effective strategies in internationalization of higher education in the United States

2014 IJRSE – Volume 3 Issue 2

Author/s:

Özturgut, Osman
University of the Incarnate Word, USA (ozturgut@uiwtx.edu)

Cantu, Maria P.
University of the Incarnate Word, USA (mpcantu@student.uiwtx.edu)

Pereira, Leo J.*
University of the Incarnate Word, USA (ljpereir@student.uiwtx.edu)

Ramón, Denise K.
University of the Incarnate Word, USA (dkramon@student.uiwtx.edu)

Abstract:

This qualitative study investigated the existing outlooks of internationalization in higher education in US universities having a sizable international student population attending their campuses. The purpose of this research was to explore the common practices for internationalization of higher education in US institutions. This study utilized Zha’s (2003) conceptual and organizational framework of internationalization of higher education: the activity approach, which includes curricula, studying abroad, internationalizing faculty, and recruitment of international students. Other components of the framework include: the competency approach, which includes development of knowledge and skills, the ethos approach which focuses on the infusion of intercultural and international initiatives, and the process approach which seeks internationalization by means of inclusion of international and intercultural dimensions into teaching, service, and research. A correlation was discovered between the cited literature and raw data that was analyzed. The main themes indicating current practices that higher education institutions were employing to increase internationalization were: 1) hosting international events for training and education on culture and diversity, and 2) having international dimensions within their institutional infrastructure. This study suggests that internationalization of higher education in the United States needs to continue, evolve, and expand, especially since globalization trends make it more pertinent to the understanding of various cultures. In order for higher education in the United States to be competitive and viable in the global market, there needs to be a sustained goal in internationalizing teaching, learning, and practices.

Keywords: internationalization; higher education; globalization; culture; American universities

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.5861/ijrse.2013.569

*Corresponding Author