International Education as an Institutional Priority: What Every College and University Trustee Should Know. Institute of International Education, New York, 2011. Pages: 8.

This recent publication of the Institute of International Education (IIE) offers examples and recommendations of internationalisation strategies from American higher education institutions. Its findings are based on data from IIE’s annual Open Doors report. The briefing paper asserts that US higher education institutions need to draft “foreign policies” regarding internationalisation. Moreover, key stakeholders, including trustees and board members, can play a significant role in their respective institutional internationalisation strategies by

• articulating an explicit international mission through a strategic approach within the institution,
• advocating the development of international institutional partnerships (e.g. joint and double degree programmes),
• attracting international students,
• promoting study abroad (outgoing mobility) and
• incorporating faculty in the discourse and implementation of internationalisation of curricula.

In regards to outgoing mobility of American students to the European Higher Education Area, the report highlights significant increases in the rate of American students studying in Denmark and the Netherlands.

In addition, the report highlights key destinations (i.e. states and institutions) that have garnered the largest number of international students and the financial contribution of this phenomenon to the respective states. Further, it supports institutional internationalisation aims by asserting that the capacity for US higher education institutions to attract and host more international students has yet to reach its full potential.   

Institute of International Education