THE PROCESS OF

1
THE PROCESS OF INTERNATIONALIZATION AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF REGINA  ? FROM A TASK FORCE TO
AN ACTION PLAN Alain Boutet, PhD. Director Offic
e of International Cooperation Development
2

• Establishment of a Task Force on
  Internationalization in 2002 with representatives
  from Faculties, Affiliated Colleges, Research
  Centres, Senior Management Team and Student Body.
  Report submitted to the University community in
  April 2003.
• Mandate of the Task Force  Define the University
  of Reginas vision for Internationalization and
  identify goals to be achieved in order to
  integrate an international perspective into
  teaching, research and service activities.

3

• A process-oriented definition of
  internationalization 
• A range of activities, policies and services
  that integrate an international and
  cross-cultural dimension into the teaching,
  research, development study and service
  functions of the institution (modified after
  Knight, 2000 14)
• A review of the international programs at the
  Canadian universities made by the AUCC in 2000
  indicates that to strengthen the process of
  internationalization, universities must develop
  human potential, provide a forum for ideas,
  foster international cooperation, enhance
  international student and faculty mobility and
  contribute to international development
  (institutional capacity-building)

4
VISION OF INTERNATIONALIZATION AT THE UNIVERSITY
OF REGINA

• A university community leading advances in
  scholarship through the interaction and sharing
  of teaching, research and service experiences
  across diverse cultures within the global
  community.
• OUR TEACHING GOAL
• Create a learning environment that
  recognizes and supports cultural diversity,
  fosters global consciousness and strengthens the
  international profile of the University.
• OUR RESEARCH GOAL
• Foster a research environment in which
  internationally oriented research among the
  faculty and students at the University of Regina
  is significantly increased.
• OUR SERVICE GOAL
• Advance public awareness and provide support
  for actions that improve the understanding of
  international and global issues.

5

• MAIN OBJECTIVES TO ACHIEVE THE INTEGRATION OF AN
  INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVE INTO THE UNIVERSITY
  MISSIONS
• TEACHING
• Increase course offerings directly related to
  internationalization in academic programs
• Increase the number of faculty with
  international, cross- cultural experience
  and interests
• Promote and facilitate scholarly exchanges of
  both faculty and students and use
  information from exchange to develop and
  strengthen teaching capacity
• Encourage the acquisition of international
  language and culture education to both
  faculty and students, to enhance their
  professional and educational experience and their
  self- development as global citizens
• Deliver UofRs courses and programs to students
  in other countries where there is interest
  and opportunity

6

• RESEARCH
• Promote the University of Regina as a primary
  research institution for international research
  focused on the Universitys research strengths (5
  research clusters  energy and environment,
  culture and heritage, informatics, population
  health, social justice)
• Establish a diversified funding base for
  internationally oriented group or consortia
  research projects
• Double the international research funding
  received by the University by 2007-2008

7
SERVICE

• Facilitate interests of faculty who want to
  participate in international partnership projects
  (e.g. CIDA, IFIs,) requiring technical
  assistance and/or training, by assisting in
  project funding identification, proposal
  development, orientation arrangements and project
  management
• Set up a communication mechanism for
  disseminating information on international
  initiatives/opportunities
• Serve as ressource centre (OICD) for information
  and professional expertise (e.g. database faculty
  and staff) on global issues
• Host appropriate international conferences,
  seminars or workshops
• Engage in outreach and extra-curricular
  activities and events that promote global
  understanding, develop public awareness and
  understanding of global issues (use students,
  faculty and staff with international experience)
• Encourage faculty involvement by inclusion of
  international service activities in the annual
  performance review

8
PROPOSED ACTIONS TO ACHIEVE OBJECTIVES IN
TEACHING, RESEARCH AND SERVICE

• TEACHING (ACTIONS)
• Provide incentive and support to the development
  of new course content with respect to
  internationalization
• Include international and cross-cultural
  experience and interest as a desirable quality of
  all new faculty hires
• Identify countries or regions (country/region
  based strategy) where the University of Regina
  has interest in collaboration and exchange
  agreements
• Establish incentive/financial support to
  encourage students to participate in
  international exchange programs
• Establish faculty exchange fund to provide
  financial assistance when necessary, and
  facilitate release for faculty who are willing to
  deliver courses in other countries
• Pursue on-line learning and distance education
  with international partners
• Promote international language courses across the
  campus and make these courses more accessible for
  faculty or students working on international
  projects

9

• RESEARCH (ACTIONS)
• Communicate and advertise the University of
  Reginas role in international research through
  attendance at major conferences annually
• Promote international research for international
  clientele, initiatives with research sponsors,
  possible donors, etc.
• Create enhanced web site and database of research
  expertise for internationalization at the
  University of Regina, and provide an annual
  report on international research activities.
• Identify, monitor and disseminate international
  sources for research funding.
• Diversify funding sources with increased emphasis
  on international funding institutions and
  regional development bank-funded activities and
  client-funded activities.
• Develop seed funding to support development of
  proposals for international consortia research
  projects.

10

• SERVICE (ACTIONS)
• Provide financial incentives to participating
  faculties, departments, institutes in
  international projects
• Establish an International Communication
  Coordination Committee (publicize information on
  international initiatives/programs/opportunities/n
  ews by using email list serves)
• Develop a database on faculty/staff international
  involvement, noting area of expertise
• Develop (OICD) a resource centre of international
  information (journals, reports, books,
  bibliographies)
• Identify potential international conferences and
  worshops and funding sources to support/organize
  these events
• Plan 2-3 international events for the university
  and work with multi-cultural community (groups,
  key contact people) to identify collaborative
  opportunities

11
PARTNERSHIP ASSESSMENT CATEGORIES

• Student Exchange
• Faculty Exchange
• Joint International Degree Program
• Student Recruitment
• Applied Research (funded through IDRC Programs
  and other international funding institutions and
  regional development banks)
• Development (funded through CIDA Programs and
  other international funding institutions and
  regional development banks)

12
MODEL OF COMMUNICATION FOR INSTITUTIONAL
CHANGEIN A PROCESS OF INTERNATIONALIZATION
OICD
CATALYST
INSTITUTIONAL DIALOGUE ON INTERNATIONALIZATION
INSTITUTIONAL ACTORS
RECOGNITION OF INITIATIVES
IDENTIFICATION AND INVOLVEMENT OF INSTITUTIONAL
ACTORS
EXPRESSION OF SHARED INTERESTS
ACTION PLAN
OPTIONS FOR ACTION/CONSENSUS ON ACTION
SETTING OBJECTIVES
ASSESSMENT OF INITIATIVES
INSTITUTIONAL ACTIONS FOR INTERNATIONALIZATION
ASSIGNMENT OF RESPONSIBILITIES
MOBILIZATION OF RESOURCES INTERNAL/ EXTERNAL
IMPLEMENTATION
OUTCOMES VS OBJECTIVES
EVALUATION
13
KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND INITIATIVES

• Reinforcement of strategic partnerships with
  China
• Expansion of key partnerships to targeted
  countries in Africa, Europe, Latin America and
  South East Asia
• Creation of financial incentives for faculty
  initiatives and student mobility
• Establishment of a communication and coordination
  mechanism with the academic and administrative
  units (ICCC)
• Reinforcement of the Visiting Scholars Program in
  close collaboration with the Faculties
• Identification of elements for revenue generation
  at the OICD, to maintain incentives for academic
  and administrative units international initiatives

14
Challenges and Opportunities for the future at
the University of Regina

• Increase student mobility through existing and
  future agreements with international partners,
  and through the strenghthening of the
  International Student Success Office
  (opportunities  EC-Canada Program, NAMP,
  Bilateral agreements Mexico, Asia, Australia)
• Strengthen and develop Joint International Degree
  Programs (undergraduate and graduate) .
  Opportunities  China, Korea, India, Malaysia,
  Thailand Brasil, Chile, Mexico
• Support projects/initiatives from Faculties,
  Research Centres and Institutes (opportunities 
  see list of research centres and institutes)
• Support the establishment of and international
  student recruitment strategy (three key
  principles capacity, commitment, coordination)

15
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR STRENGHTHENING
THE OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AND
DEVELOPMENT (OICD) AT THE UNIVERSITY OF REGINA

• SHORT-TERM OBJECTIVES
• Reinforce dialogue and communication with
  institutional actors involved in international
  initiatives and with international partners
• Enhance internal and external visibility of the
  OICD
• Implement an International Strategic Opportunity
  Fund (ISOF Initiatives and ISOF Student
  Mobility)
• Strengthen consultation with Faculties around the
  process/goals/strategies of internationalization

16
LONG-TERM OBJECTIVES

• Reinforce with institutional interest groups
  (e.g. Latin America, South East Asia/China,
  Europe,) country/regional strategies resulting
  from the Action Plan on Internationalization
• Establish information/promotion mechanisms on
  international (e.g. newsletter, visiting
  lecturers program, international travels)