Creating Universities for a Multiethnic and Multicultural World: A Utopia?

Abstract

The main challenge facing internationalsation of higher education is retaining roots in a cultural setting while being open to new influences. Internationalsation affects every aspect of university life. An initial issue this raises is language. Universities must decide in which languages to teach and which languages will be offered, decisions that raise questions regarding graduation requirements. It would seem a logical step to require all students to study a foreign language. Introducing language requirements into the curriculum necessitates considerable and probably continual revision of study and degree programmes. However, to meet their challenges and realise their opportunities, universities will no longer be able to go it alone. Apart from staff and student mobility, distance education, and other forms of delivery, universities will need to work together. The next decade will therefore see much close cooperation in networks, both general and disciplinary. Further development of joint study and research programmes will also characterise the period.