The internationalization of Canadian university research: a global higher education matrix analysis of multi-level governance

Abstract

To date, much of the research on internationalization and globalization of higher education has focused on the institution or higher education system as the unit of analysis. Institution based studies have focused on the analysis of institutional practices and policies designed to further internationalization. System-level studies focus on state policy initiatives or approaches. In this paper we explore the inter-relationships among multiple levels of authority within a higher education system through an analysis of research policies and activities related to internationalization. While we are interested in the internationalization of university research, our primary objective is to explore the relationships between policy initiatives and approaches at different levels. Using the ''Global Higher Education Matrix'' as a framework, we discuss the policy emphasis on the internationalization of research at the federal, provincial (Ontario), and institutional levels of authority, as well as the international research activities associated with two large professional schools operating at the understructure level. By focusing on the inter-relationships among initiatives at different levels of authority, this study explores the complexity of policy perspectives within the internationalization of research in the context of multi-level governance. IntroductionThe interdependencies among global, national and local are of increasing interest in the higher education literature. Researchers seek a more integrated framework of analysis in order to understand the complexities caused by the internationalization of university research (Marginson and Rhoades 2002;Enders 2004). A more scrupulous investigation of each plane in the new framework reveals a series of fragmented elements that suggest that the internationalization of research is an incoherent and sporadic process, rather than an amalgamated and planned course of actions (Oleksiyenko 2008). The interrelationships among federal, provincial and institutional policies are one of the areas where such disconnections transpire. This paper sheds more light on the nature of such interdependencies. Before delving into the depths of the multifarious policy linkages in the internationalization of university research in Canada, we consider the broader global perspective of higher education internationalization.

Pursuing scientific excellence globally: internationalising research as a policy target

“…Far from being an exception in this respect, Canadian funding agencies have experienced various obstacles in their efforts to promote international collaboration. Deficiencies in both the quantity of funding for international science activities and in the coordination of existing initiatives have been identified as key challenges (AUCC, 2006;Jones & Oleksiyenko, 2011). The question of how to best support international collaboration is also a major concern to Canadian funding agencies, particularly with regards to the decision of whether to retrofit existing programmes or launch new ones (AUCC, 2008).…”

“…According to King (2011, p. 371), '[t]he recent movement to globally based, networked science is controlled effectively by researchers rather than by governments'. Jones and Oleksiyenko (2011) note that up to the mid-2000s in Canada the universities they studied displayed 'high levels of international research activity and collaboration even in the absence of high levels of government and institutional support' (p. 53). These findings beg the question of whether the efforts to promote the internationalisation of Canadian science since the mid-2000s have had an impact and how.…”

Role of Campus Leadership in Managing Change and Challenges of Internationalization of Higher Education

“…However, for successfully running the international office, it is always assumed that the organizational structure provides full support to enhance the institution's ability to deal with the change and challenges of internationalization. It is far more important that the leaders must become involve in the promotion of the international functions and capacity of the college or university (Jones & Oleksiyenko, 2011).…”

Internationalization Legacies and Collaboration Challenges: Post-Imperial Hybrids and Political Fallouts in Russian Higher Education

“…Past practices and lessons learned, as well as allegiances to certain cultural norms, strongly influence individual engagement in boundary-crossing initiatives, but also contribute to the formation or dissolution of institutional policies with regard to collaborative environments (Jones & Oleksiyenko, 2011). Governments may apply various policy instruments to generate compliance with all or some of these policies.…”