Measuring Internationalisation
Higher education institutions worldwide are increasingly interested in measuring internationalisation. What are the results of internationalisation activities, what are the aims of internationalisation and how can meaningful output be measured? Two tools that Nuffic and her partners offer to give insight in these questions are presented at various international seminars this spring.
Why is the demand for tools to measure internationalisation on the rise? Apart from the ongoing professionalisation of internationalisation, higher education institutions can no longer afford to fail. The current economic crisis intensifies the existing accountability culture. Institutions are urged to look for measurable outcomes of internationalisation and place input and output in perspective, in any field.
Worldwide interest
At a recent Academic Cooperation Association (ACA) seminar the association presented a range of tools to measure internationalisation. The DAAD and Campus France will do so for their national audience in May and June. Additionally, Nuffic has received interest for the IMPI and MINT tools from institutions in Austria, Japan, the US and several other countries.
Three tools are frequently presented at seminars and conferences: the MINT web tool, the IMPI indicator list and the survey report and advisory service of the International Association of Universities. This does not mean there are no other tools available. Many institutions are developing their own tool and as measuring internationalisation is currently a hot topic, more tools are expected to be developed on both national and international levels.
What to measure?
What is being measured exactly with the existing tools? Most tools measure fitness for purpose not fitness of purpose. In other words, universities should first check their internationalisation goals and then look if they have the right instruments to reach those goals. That is where the current measuring tools like MINT can be of great use.
On 10 May the ACA will hold a symposium in Brussels on the IMPI project.