2007 WMSCI Academic Globalization

Academic Globalization: The Growth of International Collaboration in Education and Research Projects : Academic Globalization: The Growth of International Collaboration in Education and Research Projects Stuart A. Umpleby The George Washington University Washington, DC


Dramatic changes are occurring in universities : Dramatic changes are occurring in universities Universities have existed in most countries for many years Some travel by students and faculty has been common for many years But several trends, occurring at the same time, are having a dramatic effect on the way universities operate


Current Trends : Current Trends


Trends that are creating a global network of universities : Trends that are creating a global network of universities The internet The Bologna Process is standardizing university course credits, degrees, and procedures More international experience for faculty and students A change in the “global game” Increased competition among universities Widespread use of the English language


Universities are striving to : Universities are striving to Improve contacts with other universities Find new sources of funding Promote faculty development Improve university infrastructure Encourage research and service in addition to education Increase faculty oversight of university administration


Competition among universities : Competition among universities


Sources of competition : Sources of competition New private universities Branches of Western universities in other countries, for example Westminster University in Tashkent, Uzbekistan Distance education courses and degrees Corporate universities


Many new corporate universities : Many new corporate universities


Consequences of competition : Consequences of competition Universities compete for faculty by offering higher salaries Faculty, who have more choices in where to work, want oversight of administrative decisions Tuition-paying students demand quality instruction Higher salaries will mean less corruption, such as professors selling grades to students


Cooperation among universities : Cooperation among universities


Aid for developing new degree programs : Aid for developing new degree programs Some governments, such as the U.S., U.K. and Germany provide grants for establishing new degree programs (e.g., an MBA program in Sarajevo, Bosnia) For a few years students receive degrees from both universities to help establish the program Faculty members in both countries learn about the other country


More student and faculty exchanges : More student and faculty exchanges Increasing numbers of students now travel abroad for a semester, a summer or short study tours Faculty frequently attend international conferences Faculty learn how other universities work and take ideas home


Visiting scholars at GWU : Visiting scholars at GWU At The George Washington University we have been hosting young faculty members since 1994 under a State Department program Most have come from the former Soviet Union and the former Yugoslavia


Visiting scholars by year : Visiting scholars by year


Russia : Russia


Ukraine : Ukraine


What the visiting scholars do : What the visiting scholars do Revise their course materials Learn more participatory teaching methods Make contacts with U.S. scholars in their fields Prepare papers for conferences and journals When they return, keep in touch via email Occasionally meet at conferences


Encouraging service learning abroad : Encouraging service learning abroad In addition to their usual work on research and revising curricula, we explain service learning and introduce them to group facilitation methods Service learning is a new idea in many countries


Some obstacles to implementing service learning abroad : Some obstacles to implementing service learning abroad Low faculty salaries leave little time to experiment Service Learning is sometimes confused with forced labor The curriculum (from the Ministry of Education) prescribes teaching methods The way courses are taught limits teaching methods (students decide to enroll at the end of the course)


Recommendations for removing the obstacles : Recommendations for removing the obstacles Adopt service as a mission in addition to education and research Offer training programs to explain SL Create incentives and rewards for faculty Create a positive image of faculty engaged in SL Modify the curriculum and requirements when necessary to enable SL


The Internet : The Internet


Regions and Countries : Regions and Countries


Number of PC Users : Number of PC Users


Total Internet Users : Total Internet Users The rate of increase has been phenomenal after 1994 North America, Europe and East Asia are the top three China, Oceania, Latin America and South Asia also have a high growth rate An increase in every region But the rate is lower and it started late The graph begins from 1990


What the internet makes possible : What the internet makes possible Much easier access to information via the world wide web Easier administrative cooperation for conferences, journals, professional societies Distance education where students and professors can be located anywhere in the world


Implications of the internetfor research : Implications of the internet for research The possibility to work with scholars anywhere in the world almost as easily as with colleagues at the same university Co-authoring of papers by researchers in two or more countries Great new opportunities for social science research


New Sources of Funds : New Sources of Funds


New sources of funds for universities : New sources of funds for universities Charge tuition Begin an endowment Develop contacts with corporations so they will support university research Submit more proposals for research grants Sell objects that use the university name – T-shirts, coffee mugs, caps


New sources of incomefor faculty members : New sources of income for faculty members Higher salaries due to competition among universities for faculty members Consulting income from corporations which must compete with international firms Work as a teacher or assistant in distance learning courses offered by foreign universities


Reasons to outsource teaching to foreign professors : Reasons to outsource teaching to foreign professors Expand the number of potential instructors Lower costs by hiring instructors who are willing to work for less than Western professors Hire professors who know both English and the home country language Increase the number of students who enroll for courses


Examples of outsourcing teaching : Examples of outsourcing teaching A faculty member at the Siberian-American Faculty of Management in Irkutsk, Russia, has been teaching for the University of Maryland University College via the internet The same faculty member has been teaching for the University of Southern Queensland in Australia


Strengthening the global network of universities : Strengthening the global network of universities Improve specific universities using quality improvement methods Improve service to the local community through service learning Strengthen cooperation among universities using the internet


Likely benefits from strengthening universities : Likely benefits from strengthening universities More scientific advances created by more scientists More rapid economic development A more skilled labor force More educated citizens to create stable democracies Improved international understanding


Implications of academic globalization : Implications of academic globalization Universities will pay more attention to research and service in addition to education Those interested in promoting “development” may pay more attention to education in addition to economics and politics


An experiment in academic globalization : An experiment in academic globalization We can use these conferences in Orlando to advance academic globalization During this conference we shall meet to develop plans for cooperative activities In the coming year we shall work to implement these plans Next year we shall reflect on what we have learned and then develop new plans


Slide37 : A keynote address prepared for the World Multi-Conference on Systemics, Cybernetics, and Informatics Orlando, Florida July 8-11, 2007


Slide38 : Contact Information Prof. Stuart A. Umpleby Department of Management The George Washington University Washington, DC 20052, USA Phone: 202-994-1642 E-Mail: umpleby@gwu.edu http://www.gwu.edu/~umpleby