A cross college perspective on
internationalisation and international
development
Hilary Homans
17th May 2011
Overview
• Definitions of internationalism and sustainable
international development
• Describe role of CSID and international
student situation at the University of
Aberdeen
• Discussion on how internationalisation
complements sustainable international
development? And vice versa?
Internationalisation
• Jeremy Bentham (1748 –1832) coined the
words “international” and “multicultural” and
also foresaw the globalized community that
we now live in.
• Includes commitment to the “greatest
happiness principle” (utilitarianism), equality
and social justice.
International or
globalised university
• draws upon the cultural and methodological
background of students
• promotes “brain circulation” whereby their
academic staff travel to other countries
(including through staff exchange), rather than
always expecting students to come “North” or
“West”
• Implies different ways of knowledge exchange
Added value of
internationalisation
• Sustainable knowledge generation and
exchange involving a broad range of partners
working towards shared goals.
• Informed by, and sharing an understanding of
cultural differences, so that learning takes
place on all fronts.
Sustainable development
Economic, social and environment process are inter-connected
Rio Summit on Environment and Development, 1992
Need to place people at the centre of development
Why the Centre was established
The University of Aberdeen
• is committed to internationalisation & the twin principles of
sustainability and social responsibility (Strategic Plan 2009 to 2010)
• needs to demonstrate societal impact at an individual,
institutional, national and global level through the Research
Excellence Framework (REF)
• has recognised the need:
– to coordinate work on sustainable international
development across the University
– for an inter-disciplinary and multi-sectoral approach - future
long term reseach needs to work across disciplines & sectors
to maximise impact
Vision
The Centre’s vision is to make a significant
contribution to the sustainable achievement
of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)
and other international development targets.
Guiding principles (1)
1. Commitment to equity and social inclusion
and the promotion of equality of access to
sustainable development for all citizens with
special attention to socially excluded persons.
2. Enhancement of human dignity and
protection of the human rights of all persons.
Guiding principles (2)
3. Interdisciplinary evidence-informed, needs based
and results-oriented research, monitoring and
evaluation contributing to policy and sustainable
development.
4. Multi-sectoral age, gender and diversity-sensitive
innovative approaches, involving partners at all levels
within public, private and non-profit sectors.
5. Consistent with the UK DFID international
development stratey, the RCUK research priorities and
other relevant strategies and internationally adopted
commitments.
Strategic directions
• Maintain a data base of expertise and research programmes
within the University
• Build strategic partnerships within:
–
–
–
–
–
the University
local community – Cafe International seminars
Scotland
United Kingdom
Global environment to foster north-south and south-south partnerships and collaboration
for sustainable international development based on countries’ needs
• Build capacity of staff, students and partners
• Leverage funding for University work on sustainable
international development
• Communicate and disseminate information about the work of
the Centre
Who is doing what?
Data base
Posters of work
Research by Millennium Development Goals
Largest numbers of overseas students
at UoA by country, 2007 to 2011
1600
1400
1200
1000
800
600
400
200
0
China
India
Kuwait
2007/08
2008/09
Malaysia
2009/10
2010/11
Nigeria
Total
USA
Students from least developed
countries at UoA, 2007 to 2011
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
Bangladesh
Burkina Faso
Cambodia
Congo DRC
Ethiopia
Gambia
Malawi
Mauritania
Nepal
Niger
Rwanda
Sudan
Uganda
UR Tanzania
Yemen
Zambia
Students from low income
countries at UoA, 2007 to 2011
92
100
90
80
70
60
48
50
29
40
30
20
10
0
Ghana
Kenya
Total over 4 years
Zimbabwe
Partnerships
Partnerships
• Partnerships are critical to internationalisation
and international development.
• Many examples of partnerships between
universities in the UK and developing country
universities.
• E.g. the DELPHE programme on transforming
land policy in Ghana where universities
provided the academic component and a civil
society organisation developed a community
based programme on the use of land.
Partnerships
• UoA good example is the role of universities
in addressing the Millennium Development
Goals (MDGs) and Aberdeen has been at
the forefront of this through its work on
improving maternal health and improving
water safety in developing countries.
CSID partnerships
Aberdeen Centre for Environmental Sustainability
Centre for Citizenship, Civil Society and the Rule of Law
Centre for Energy Law
Centre for Gender Studies
Initiative for Maternal Mortality Programme Assessment
World Energy Cities Partnership
Staff
Associates
http://www.abdn
.ac.uk/sustainabl
e-internationaldevelopment/pe
ople/associates/
© Giacomo Pirozzi
(Panos Pictures)
Local partnerships
• Support from the Aberdeen Council of
Voluntary Organisations
• Partnerships with local NGOs
– Aberdeen Foyer (Tanzania)
– Arrow (Kenya)
– Kids Action (Sierra Leone)
– MedicAid (Sierra Leona)
– Rotary clubs
– Tillydrone Vision (Uganda)
– Zoe Lee Foundation (South
Africa)
Robin Waugh, Uganda
Scottish partnerships
• Development Studies Association, Scotland
• Network of International Development
Organisations in Scotland (NIDOS)
• Rwanda Scotland Alliance
• Scottish Malawi Partnership
• Scottish Executive
Impact and skills development
Strong partnerships:
• Are based on countries needs
• Involve shared learning
• Ensure that research is embedded into policy
and practice
• Demonstrate commitment to impact
• May involve academic staff learning new skills
in advocacy and communication
Build capacity
Cross college seminars
• Fourteen seminars over 10 months on topics
such as, civil society engagement, education,
environmental protection, ethics, global
climate change, impact of research, land
reform, poverty, substance use, water
• Seven visiting speakers
– Overseas: Rwanda, Zimbabwe (3)
– UK: Aberdeen, Manchester, London
Build capacity
• 6th Century course – global citizenship,
culture, equality and diversity
• Working groups to strengthen research
linkages
–
–
–
–
–
Nigeria
Ghana
India
Bangladesh
Nepal
Volunteers
• http://www.abdn.ac.uk/sustainableinternational-development/people/volunteers-/
• Trained:
to become tutors
in presentation skills
In poster development
•
•
•
•
Established Facebook page
Working with local NGOs and community
Networking with students
? Establish International Development Association
UoA Strategic Plan 2011 to 2015
“We will embed a culture of
internationalisation across our activities and in
so doing enhance our reputation as a global
university.”
Targets
4.1 establish 10 new international strategic partnership
arrangements with institutions in priority regions
4.2 establish three partnerships with countries or
regions leading to joint institutes, the first of these
to be a Confucius institute
Internationalisation targets continued
4.3 enable 1,200 of our students to have an overseas
experience during their time at Aberdeen
4.4 increase the number of international students to
2,360
4.5 improve our position in international league tables
particularly in relation to the proportion of
international students and international staff
Future
• Vice Principal for internationalisation just
appointed
• Internationalisation strategy to be developed
• How can internationalisation complement
sustainable international development? And
vice versa?