About the module

Internationalization in education has generally been viewed positively, with its benefits grouped into two broad areas. Firstly, benefits to students in terms of career preparation, development of cultural and linguistic competencies, and overall global competitiveness and to higher education institutions (HEIs) in terms of enrollment and financial health, cross-border collaborative research, and prestige. Secondly, benefits to societies in terms of the migration of talented, educated new workers and entrepreneurs, and countries in terms of economic activity generated from this sector as well as the distinct soft power advantages that international higher education can engender. These positive aspects of international education have been most effectively developed and refined by the so-called “Big 4” international student destination markets of the US, UK, Australia, and Canada.

In recent years, salient cultural issues have surfaced in top destination countries from which international higher education is not immune. Migration, inflation, economic transformation, urbanization, and rapid cultural change have brought uncertainty and a volatile mix of politics that have produced new scrutiny of our sector. World events have abruptly crashed onto campuses, with institutional leaders at times flat-footed and unprepared in response. These developments should be seen within the context of an anti-globalization backlash impacting much of the world and international education leaders must be ready for it.

This course is designed for international education professionals, leaders, and future leaders needing approaches and strategies for taking their institution to a higher level of international engagement within this challenging context. Through select readings, discussions, and projects in this rigorous module, participants will push themselves and develop both professional skills and valuable deliverables to implement in their own settings.

Successful completion of this course will result in a digital micro-credential acknowledging completion of this professional development expert module from the International Education Management & Leadership Program at the University at Albany (SUNY).