A Shared Vision? Stakeholders' Perspectives on the Internationalization of Higher Education in Canada

Abstract

The 1990s mark an important phase in the evolution of the internationalization of higher education. One distinguidshing feature is the different priorities the various stakeholder groups ring to the international dimension of higher education. This article reports on a recent Canadian survey which explored the differences and similarities in views and expectations among those stakeholder groups having a central interest in the internationalization of the higher education system. These groups come from three sectors: government, academia, and the private sector

Of particular interest and significance are the different rationales that each sector attributes to why we should be internationalizing higher education. A number of overarching issues emerged as important themes to consider, including: • International education standards • Preparation of globally knowledgeable and interculturally competent graduates •Recruiting and supporting international student' • Teaching of foreign languages • Curriculum reform • Marketing and export of education products and services • Study abroad and work placement for Canadian students • Cooperation within and among the three sectors.

The study concludes that, regardless of whether these issues are topics of consensus or controversy, it is critical that the three sectors look for ways of addressing them in a collaborative manner if we are to further the internationalization of higher education in Canada. The three national organizations which undertook this study are the Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE), the Association of Universitie and Colleges of Canada (AUCC), and the Association of Canadian Community Colleges (ACCC).