Parameters for the Assessment of the Impact of Internationalisation Policy on Quality in Higher Education and its Influence on the Development of Society: The Lithuanian Case

Alvija Sumskaite,Inga Juknyte-Petreikiene

doi:10.1515/cejpp-2016-0023

Alvija Sumskaite, Inga Juknyte-Petreikiene

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1515/cejpp-2016-0023

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Abstract

AbstractThe article discusses the envisaged outcomes of internationalisation policy of higher education in the context of the European Higher Education Area, and the effect of internationalisation policy on quality in higher education. In Lithuania, internationalisation of higher education is supported by large amounts of public finance, in the hope that internationalisation will provide added value to the quality of higher education. However, there are no tools for collecting evidence of whether that investment is properly used. The research question of the study is how the internationalisation policy impact on quality in higher education and its influence on wider society may be measured in a particular national context. The article presents exploratory research findings based on an extensive literature review and views of policymakers, higher education administrators and academics evaluated as a set of indicators and criteria to be used in assessing the impact of internationalisation policy on quality in higher education and its influence on wider society.

Highlights

The European Commission’s strategy on higher education (HE) promotes actions in the area of increasing academic mobility, cooperation and partnership of higher education institutions (HEI), and internationalisation of study programmes
Based on data provided on the website of the EU Structural Assistance, we found that 32 Lithuanian HEIs (12 universities and 20 colleges) were funded from the EU Structural Funds (SF) for internationalisation with a total amount of €18,039,178.8
The exploratory research aimed at defining what indicators should be prioritised in the assessment of the impact of internationalisation policy on quality in HE and its influence on society

Summary

Introduction

The European Commission’s strategy on higher education (HE) promotes actions in the area of increasing academic mobility, cooperation and partnership of higher education institutions (HEI), and internationalisation of study programmes. In Bologna Process documents and scientific research (Radzevičienė, 2007; Culver, Puri, Spinelli, DePauw & Dooley, 2012; Urbanovič & Wilkins, 2013; Heffron & Maresco, 2014; Costello, 2015), the impact of internationalisation on quality in HE and its influence on society is treated positively. Publications include special international scientific journals (International Higher Education since 1995, the Journal of Studies in International Education since 1997, the Journal of Research in International Education since 2002, etc.) analysing various aspects of internationalisation, including strategies and practice as well as both the concept and the policy of internationalisation. Publications include special international scientific journals (International Higher Education since 1995, the Journal of Studies in International Education since 1997, the Journal of Research in International Education since 2002, etc.) analysing various aspects of internationalisation, including strategies and practice as well as both the concept and the policy of internationalisation. Horta (2009), Yemini (2014), Cantwell and Maldonado-Maldonado (2009) have noted the increasing interest in internationalisation in the HE literature

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