International Staff Research Articles

Conceptualizing and contextualizing three-dimensional interaction model of internationalization: Evidence from China

This study explores to conceptualize and practicalize three-dimensional interaction model of internationalization from China’s higher education perspective. Applying documentary analysis, a qualitative method, and interviews, 15 international administrative staff and directors from eight sampled local universities were interviewed to present in-depth insights into the internationalization of the local higher education system in Beijing. The major findings are that strategic positioning in terms of the internationalization of local universities should be based on the following: top-level design of a national macro internationalization strategy; a focus on the internal need for internationalization at the regional level; and understanding the distinctive advantages of internationalization at the local level. The choices for the internationalization of local universities should focus on the absolute advantages of the ‘scale’ of resources and rationally expand the relative advantages concerning the ‘structure’ of resources. Implementation of the strategy for internationalization of local universities should actively build on the competitive advantage of ‘strategic resource integration’. In conclusion, the need to combine national needs with regional development, the importance of combining connotation and capacity building, and of adhering to a combination of a top-level layout or design and local practice are explored and summarized. Finally, both the theoretical contribution and practical implications of this study are discussed.

Support those impacted by global crises

Although it may seem difficult to find practical ways to show support for your institution's international students, staff, and faculty who have been impacted by the Russia–Ukraine war and other recent global crises, it comes down to some very basic strategies.

Support those impacted by global crises

Although it may seem difficult to find practical ways to show support for your institution's international students, staff, and faculty who have been impacted by the Russia–Ukraine war and other recent global crises, it comes down to some very basic strategies.

Curriculum Improvement Plans based on Satisfaction Survey with Chinese Education Consumers in graduate programs in Arts, Music and Physical Education: A Case Study of ‘A’ University

The purpose of this study is to establish improved curriculum and operation policy for Chinese education consumers by investigating and analyzing the performance of Chinese students in Korea enrolled in graduate programs in arts and physical education. To this end, a focus group interview and a questionnaire survey were conducted with Chinese students and international student affairs staff at ‘A’ University located in a metropolitan area. Analysis research was conducted based on both interview and survey results. Research findings and their implications are as follows: First, student satisfaction for major practical courses was found to be high in terms of their qualitative and quantitative aspects. Thus, other courses and theory courses need to be improved by considering the basic academic skills and Korean language ability of Chinese students. Second, thesis-related research results indicated that Chinese students are not effectively performing thesis writing despite their high awareness of the necessity and importance of writing a thesis. Thus, thesis-related courses should be operated after identifying the problems Chinese students have. Third, investigation on interactions showed that Chinese students have positive and active interactions with professors teaching major practical courses, reflecting the central role of practice in arts and physical education. Thus, efforts should be made to expand Chinese students’ interactions with and understanding of Korean students besides strengthening the role of professors as mentors. Fourth, since research results showed low satisfaction for graduate school operation and its educational environment, it is necessary to build an educational environment conforming to the uniqueness and professionalism of arts and physical education by improving and expanding the practice room environment. In conclusion, a comprehensive approach reflecting the uniqueness and professionalism of arts and physical education should be taken in building educational infrastructure and environment and designing and operating classes for Chinese education consumers. The characteristics of each major and its members must be considered as well to present specific plans in greater detail.

International Student Recruitment During the Pandemic: The Unique Perspective of Recruiters from Small to Medium-Sized Higher Education Institutions.

Higher education can be considered an industry comprised of mobile students attending institutions worldwide (Findlay et al. in Int Migr 55(3):139–155, 2017). The global pandemic, COVID-19, has significantly impacted the mobility of these students. Higher education institutions (HEIs) have attracted students using international student recruiters, various marketing materials, websites, and educational agents (de Wit in Int High Educ 59:13–14, 2015). When COVID-19 began to unfold around the globe the disease impacted many sectors of the economy, but the impact of disease on the higher education industry is not well documented. The purpose of this study is to explore how higher education institutional student recruitment staff responded to the COVID-19 pandemic. This study explores the perspectives of international student recruitment staff in eight small to medium-sized institutions in Canada to understand the impact of the pandemic on their practice and to generate insights for policymakers to consider when planning the future of international student recruitment (ISR). The study found that these recruiters perceived their size to be a disadvantage and that the pandemic highlighted the inequities within higher education. Furthermore, recruiters feared the competitive position of small to medium-sized institutions is potentially deteriorating with implications on policy, resources, and internal relationships within HEIs.

Support those impacted by global crises

Although it may seem difficult to find practical ways to show support for your institution's international students, staff, and faculty who have been impacted by the Russia–Ukraine war and other recent global crises, it comes down to some very basic strategies.

Intercultural adjustment of internationally mobile academics working in Thailand

Non-nationals constitute up to a quarter of the academic staff workforce of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) worldwide. Their motivations to ‘work abroad’, and their experiences of doing so, are, however, under-researched, especially where migration is to or within the global South. We report a study conducted among internationally mobile academics from a variety of countries working in Thailand. At policy level, Thailand aspires to increase the numbers of international staff and students in its HEIs, but with mixed success in terms of recruitment levels and the reported quality of the experience among these migrants. Conceptually, our study drew on a framework of intercultural adjustment defined as a multidimensional construct comprising psychological, sociocultural and professional/work aspects of the experience. Semi-structured focus groups were conducted to explore experiences of working in Thailand. Thematic analysis of findings showed that reported experiences mainly fell under the category of professional/work aspects of intercultural adjustment, although sociocultural issues were also important. The reported quality of experiences was mixed and generally more negative than positive in the key areas of professional and work adjustment. Specific challenges highlighted by participants related to issues with the work environment, most especially lingual-cultural problems and, crucially, a lack of secure status. We detail and discuss these findings and present recommendations for policy makers and HEIs, aspirant academic migrants, and for future research into global academic migration, particular as it relates to Thailand and other destinations for academic migration.

A critical exploration of inclusion policies of elite UK universities

AbstractInclusion is seen as an ethical obligation, grounded in notions of equity and social justice for all groups and at all stages of education, with higher education (HE) representing a distinctive space where the inclusion agenda is becoming more influential. However, inclusion is also increasingly recognised as an ambiguous concept that might have lost its critical edge and is in many cases reduced to ‘chatter’. To explore inclusion in this context, we analysed 48 policy documents from the websites of the 24 Russell Group Universities (the ‘elite’, research‐intensive, UK universities) using a critical discourse analysis approach. We found that inclusion was rarely defined clearly, and that tensions, complexity and pedagogical implications of inclusion were not discussed. Inclusion was also related to excellence and ideas about a ‘global university’ that are central to a university’s reputation and ability to attract international students and staff. We see three ways in which these findings are significant: the way inclusion was approached in the policy documents could largely be described as managerial/legalistic, seen as the responsibility of human resources; inclusion was perceived as an act of legal compliance that was also expected to influence everyday relationships – but without an explanation of how this could happen; and inclusion was discussed together with broader debates within HE, e.g. meritocracy, but without a critical reflection on what this means. We, thus, argue that universities should resist treating inclusion as a quality and performance index and recognise that inclusion is linked to the very purposes of HE.

Internationalisation of higher education beyond the West: challenges and opportunities – the research evidence

ABSTRACT The internationalisation of higher education has typically been seen as a contemporary trend driven by Western developed nations, whereby particular elite models of provision, most frequently delivered in the English language, influence practice globally. This has involved either the recruitment of international students and staff, notably to the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom, and other Western countries, or the opening by their universities of branch campuses overseas. The picture is, however, rather more complex than this, with many other national and institutional players involved, in different ways at different levels, and patterns varying from region to region. This article explores the research evidence on the internationalisation of higher education beyond the West through a systematic review of recent academic writing. In doing so, it draws attention to the challenges and opportunities identified in the research literature, and questions whether the internationalisation of higher education is a truly global phenomenon.

Recruiting international students: Analysing the imaginative geographies of three urban encounters

International students are a critical source of income for UK universities, and yet reports indicate that their numbers have been in decline since academic year 2010–2011. Consequently, UK universities need to work harder to attract international students than ever before. This paper uses qualitative interviews with international office staff based at UK higher education institutions together with observational research at recruitment events which took place in Hong Kong in 2017 to demonstrate how the urban has a critical role to play in the international student migration industry. The paper showcases three urban encounters in the recruitment process: the higher education recruitment fair; the connections universities draw between themselves and other urban locations; and by considering how predeparture events mobilise the urban landscape to communicate dynamic learning experiences. The retelling and analysis of these encounters demonstrate how universities, and the UK, create, foster and embed the geographical imaginary in their recruitment processes in order to entice and encourage brand loyalty from prospective students.

Editorial: Special Issue on Materials for Extreme Environments, Part 2

Abstract The response of materials to extreme conditions of heat flux, stresses, strain rates, and corrosive environments provides an insight into new phenomena, reveals failure modes that limit technological possibilities, and presents novel routes for making new and improved materials. Exposing materials to extreme environments induces new physical phenomena, which are central to the challenges of science. Understanding and exploiting these extreme environments is critical for facing many of the future energy challenges, as materials for these usually operate at extremes of pressure, temperature, and chemical reactivity. Identifying materials that not only survive but also perform under extreme conditions to the design requirements is a major concern in energy research. It is in this context that this special issue on materials for extreme environment becomes relevant and useful for readers in their research endeavors. It has been a pleasure to be guest editors for the two-part special issue on Materials for Extreme Environments for Materials Performance and Characterization. The first part of special issue covered 16 papers, essentially covering the areas of materials for cryogenic applications and ultrahigh temperature, advanced materials, and manufacturing technologies. The second part of the special issue contains the remaining 18 papers, essentially showcasing recent advances in materials for energy applications. There are two review articles in this volume. The first is by Prasad Reddy et al. from the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, India, on “Core Materials for Sodium Cooled Fast Reactors: Past to Present and Future Prospects,” which reviews materials that are subjected to extreme conditions of intense fast-spectrum neutron irradiation, high temperatures, and mechanical/chemical fuel-cladding interactions. The second article, by Patil et al., “A Review on the Material Development and Corresponding Properties for Power Plant Applications,” brings out the recent advances in materials for power plants. These are followed by six papers each on corrosion/oxidation and welding of advanced materials for use in extreme environments. We sincerely thank both the authors and reviewers for their hard work and dedication. We wholeheartedly thank the ASTM International staff dealing with the special issues for all their efforts. We sincerely hope that you enjoy the papers in this special issue.

Mental Health and Perceived Social Support of Humanitarian Workers in Bangladesh During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Humanitarian workers are at risk of experiencing emotional distress and mental health problems. The COVID-19 pandemic created additional stress and challenges for staff in ongoing emergencies who had to continue delivering humanitarian assistance. The primary objective of this study was to assess the mental health status of humanitarian staff working in the Rohingya refugee operation in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, amid the COVID-19 pandemic. A sample of 307 national and international humanitarian staff working in person or remotely within the Rohingya refugee operation in Cox’s Bazar anonymously completed an online questionnaire. Outcome measures included 1) the WHO-UNHCR Assessment Schedule of Serious Symptoms in Humanitarian Settings which measures six symptoms related to mental health problems, 2) the Perceived Social Support Questionnaire and 3) questions about help-seeking. The self-reported mental health burden among humanitarian workers was high. The result demonstrates that most participants felt so afraid and severely upset about the emergency/COVID-19 pandemic that they avoided people or places. One in three respondents felt so angry that they were unable to carry out essential activities at least some of the time. Significant differences between national and international staff were found, with national staff more likely than international staff to feel afraid, angry, hopeless and unable to carry out essential activities (all P-values < 0.05). Nearly three out of 10 humanitarian workers reported a lack of social support. Less than one in five had sought professional help, while around half of all respondents indicated that they would want mental health support. The need for mental health support for humanitarian staff in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, during the COVID-19 pandemic was high. It is important to strengthen strategies to proactively make services for mental health support available and accessible to humanitarians, building upon existing structures and allocating appropriate resources.

Management and internationalization of research strategies in higher education institutions as a basis of economic well-being

Research and internationalization are the major difficulties confronting most higher education institutions (HEIs) in the region, putting research, innovation, internationalization, and economic and political strain on policymakers. This study is a qualitative and quantitative empirical research of two projects that examines their dominant perceptions and attitudes towards social mobility and internationalization of research strategies in HEIs as a basis of social and economic well-being. The research was conducted at the University of Gjakova “Fehmi Agani” (UFAGJ), through personal interviews and a structured questionnaire, which was carried out by management, academic staff, administrative staff, and students. The results demonstrated that the internationalization of research has a high impact on the increase of the economy and well-being in society. This research presents an analysis of the internationalization strategies employed by the HEIs through two selected projects involving different European and South East European universities. The study is based on a literature review (Almeida, Robson, Morosini, &amp; Baranzeli, 2018; Dewey &amp; Duff, 2009; Levatino, 2017) and the establishment of categories as points of reference and comparison. We look at and compare internationalization strategy focused on international staff and student mobility and internationalization at home (IaH) actions focused on the development of high-quality lectures and sensitive intercultural competencies in students as learning outcomes and strategic goals. Finally, in addition to an ex-post analysis of the ongoing implementation of the internationalization strategy at the UFAGJ, we draw conclusions and lessons learnt for the internationalization and quality of research within HEIs of an emerging economy.

ІНСТИТУЦІЙНИЙ РОЗВИТОК СТРАТЕГІЧНИХ КОМУНІКАЦІЙ В УКРАЇНІ (НА ПРИКЛАДІ МІНІСТЕРСТВ)

The introduction of strategic communications into public administration practices has acquired a legal basis as a result of the launch of the Strategic Communications Partnership between the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine and the NATO International Staff. Promoting a culture of strategic communication at the institutional level was stated in that document. The relevance of the study of the dynamics of institutionalization of strategic communications can be explained by the need to address the problem of increasing public confidence in national strategies and activities of public authorities. The purpose of the article is to identify the dynamics of the process of institutionalization of strategic communications in central government on the example of ministries. The methodology is based on the analysis of empirical data obtained in the form of ministries' responses to information requests in 2016, 2018, 2020. The subject of the request is the presence or absence in the authority of a structural unit and/or official whose activities are related to the planning or implementation of strategic communications. The article outlines the dynamics of institutionalization of strategic communications on the example of the initiation and transformation of relevant structural units and/or positions in this area. The dynamic indicates, in particular, a decrease in the level of institutionalization in 2020 compared to 2018. The change in the number of ministries has made it impossible to express this dynamic in absolute terms. In this regard, the institutionalization ratio is proposed as the ratio of the number of ministries with the relevant structural units to the total number of ministries at the time of the study. It was found that activities in the field of strategic communications in most ministries are carried out by units that also have the function of performing other tasks in the field of information and communication activities.

THE ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE IN THE HOST COUNTRY’S LANGUAGE: A UNIVERSAL SKILL REQUIREMENT FOR ENHANCING CONFIDENCE AMONG EXPATRIATE ACADEMICS

This paper highlights the association of language use skills with self-confidence as a contributing factor to the determination of expatriate self-adaptability in a foreign cultural environment. The objective of this study was to examine whether the skills of using the local language of the host country are considered as a universal skill requirement for improvisation and self-skills among expatriate academics in Malaysian Public Universities. Utilisation of qualitative methods of semi-structured interviews on 35 lecturers with international staff status in four Malaysian Public Universities which were subsequently processed by inductive analysis for dominant and subdominant thematic classifications. The findings prove that the informants utilised language proficiency as a backup to recognise their ability to respond to external stimuli, thus producing positive value to themselves. The proactive process is done by trying to find answers to change and self-transformation while in a foreign country. Studies linking the elements of confidence and self-identity skills among expatriates are often highlighted, but the approach taken is to put the advantage to be utilised on the part of the organisation and not expatriates as the subject of the study. Therefore, the results of this study fulfil the search for answers regarding their identity as an expatriate, including exploring foreign cultures, releasing the culture of the country of origin, developing a network of contacts and assessing their potential and ability to deal with the challenges of life abroad. The direction of future research refers to the addition of value in the expatriate management literature by making basic concepts of interaction such as language proficiency as an element capable of increasing self-confidence and sketching the career development of self-initiated expatriates.

Performances of care: Questioning relationship‐building and international student recruitment

AbstractThis paper analyses how performances of care are a critical feature within the international student recruitment process through an investigation of three distinctive geographical encounters: caring for students; supporting third‐party recruiters; and acting collegially. Caring and the recognition of students as emotional beings is often cited as overlooked within internationalisation agendas brought about by the neoliberalised higher education system. This paper shows how performances of caring are mobilised as part of this as an attempt to secure international student enrolments. International students are a critical income stream in the university sector and, within the UK, higher education is a major export industry. However, growing competition from new markets, limited longer‐term migration prospects, and evidence that international students are primarily viewed as cash cows, means that it is ever more difficult to recruit these students. This paper uses qualitative interviews with international office staff based at 10 UK higher education institutions together with observational research at recruitment events in Hong Kong in 2017 to offer critical and as yet unresearched insights into this aspect of the student recruitment process. It questions the validity of these caring practices and whether the university can ever be a “caring” entity if wider policy agendas are focused on the marketised and the neoliberal.

Reimagining the Delivery of International Student Services During a Global Pandemic: A Case Study in the United States.

The COVID-19 global pandemic caught the United States and the rest of the world ill-prepared, and many institutions of higher education continue to wrestle with unprecedented challenges to provide effective support services to their students. This paper examines how a mid-sized university in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States reimagined the delivery of services to its international student population at the onset of the health crisis. The study employed a qualitative method and a case study research design to describe, from an institutional perspective, the shift from a traditional in-person service model to a virtual mode of support for international students as a result of campus closures and a switch to remote learning. Based on the findings, the authors offer five key considerations that can be crucial in effectively delivering International Student Services in an online environment. Implications for international educators and support staff are discussed.

Developing Evidence-Based Alternatives to Dual Salary Systems

Abstract. The United Nation's Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8.5 aims to “achieve equal pay for work of equal value” globally by 2030. This goal conflicts with a widespread and continuing practice of paying skilled workers from higher-income economies working in lower-income settings more than their host worker counterparts. This brief summarizes research that has found that dual salaries undermine host colleagues' sense of wage justice, work motivation, and team relations. At organizational levels, they fuel turnover, increase brain drain, and reduce mental well-being of workers. Higher ratios fuel a “double demotivation” – extending to international staff who overrate their own abilities and reduce their effort at work. International, multisector evidence shows conventional dual salaries to be neither compatible nor to align with the SDGs. Organizational options for meeting SDG 8.5 identified in civil society groups include reducing dual salary ratios and implementing single salary systems at a national level. We offer three macro policy frameworks (Project Fair's Principles and Standards of INGO Fair Reward, the UN Global Compact, and OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises) that can serve to render salary systems more facilitative of the SDGs and the Decent Work Agenda.

Understanding the Interrelationship Between Career and Professional Development and Job Satisfaction

Career and professional development is a long process of personal growth along an individual’s life span. Despite their efforts to develop skills and knowledge, there are extrinsic factors that are expected by the employees to help advance their careers. There are also some factors make individuals opt to stay at their current positions and feel satisfied with the jobs. To maintain a healthy workplace environment, a Global Staff Survey (GSS) was conducted by a non-profit organization in 2020. Out of 12 topics surveyed, this article aims to analyze the result of the survey, particularly, Indonesia-specific country-context, focusing on understanding the interrelationship between career and professional development and job satisfaction or motivation. Primary data is taken from the survey participated by 192 respondents from six provinces in Indonesia. The respondents consist of different levels of positions of both national and international staff with various lengths of employment. Career and Professional Development and Job Satisfaction/Motivation are two variables extracted from the result of the survey which is analyzed through desk review methodology.

Low-Carbon Research and Teaching in Geography: Pathways and Perspectives

Universities and research centers are major producers of greenhouse gas emissions. There are growing calls from within the university sector for more proactive approaches to reducing the emissions associated with research and teaching and to contribute more to climate change mitigation. These debates have considered both the campus-based emissions of universities with large estates and the travel-related emissions associated with international staff and student communities. There is therefore an increasingly acute tension between universities’ imperative to foster international networks and expand research and teaching on the one hand and their moral obligations to decarbonize on the other hand. In this article, we consider how academic departments can navigate this challenging paradox. Our study is based on an analysis of the Department of Geography at Durham University in the United Kingdom. We examine the major sources of emissions associated with this department and find that by far the largest contribution comes from air travel for staff research and student field trips. We then explore student perspectives and consider potential pathways toward a low-carbon model of research and teaching. Overall, we find a high level of support for decarbonization in the academy and potential for significant emissions reductions with minimal impact on quality of research and teaching.