Internationalization of Higher Education Institutions: The Case of Four HEIs in the Philippines

Abstract

The last decades saw universities from all over the world experiencing increased pressure from the external environments because of globalization. It is a common understanding that internationalization is an institution’s ready response and/ or a reaction “to cope with the global academic environment” (Bernardo, 2003; Altbach and Knight, 2007). Many Higher Education Institutions’ (HEI) leaders in the Philippines like their international counterparts internationalize their institutions. This paper studied internationalization in four selected HEIs in the country. It reviewed their internationalization practices and /or approaches and its impact to faculty and students. The mixed method design through the case study approach was utilized where each HEI represented a case of internationalization in their respective institution. An interview guide on internationalization adapted from Hill and Green (2008) provided mainly the qualitative information; most quantitative data were taken from Student and Faculty Survey Questionnaire on Internationalization (Iuspa, 2010). Data were also gathered from document analysis. Findings of the study revealed that HEIs in the study varied in their range of internationalization practices, but intentions to internationalize were commonly academic and economic. Attitude of faculty and students toward internationalization was generally positive. However, there were some observed gaps that need to be addressed especially in maximizing faculty members’ and students’ opportunities for internationalization. Result of this study can offer the HEIs’ decision makers valuable information about their respective internationalization processes to guide them further in their strategic planning specifically in sustaining the thrust on internationalization.  Keywords: Globalization, internationalization motives, internationalization approaches, internationalization processes