Last week, the US Embassy, Office of the Higher Education Commission and Fulbright Thailand have a series of programs for a guest speaker, Prof. Dr. Susan Sutton, to visit several universities and share with them her long years of working on internationalization (NAFSA uses IZN as the abbreviation so we've started using it laew na ka!). I had a chance to go with her to all the universities and to be a panelist sharing our Fulbright Thailand's views on this very important topic.
All the 5 universities (CMU, KU, MU, PSU, and TU) which offered their IZN development/ideas in some forms, showed clearly how universities have been moving more actively/proactively especially when we're preparing to become the ASEAN Community.
Activities range from increased exchange programs and international programs to learning about our own life and culture as well as self-reflective exercises.
Prof. Susan pointed out how strategic planning is crucial to the IZN development and that it would lead to the efforts of universities to build mutual understanding on the IZN benefits for all, particularly our students. She stressed ethics in everything we do and move too.
She didn't touch much at all on quality indicators but it could well be drawn on the many goals/objectives she has offered.
What I liked best besides 'ethics' is the value of 'fewer but deeper' partnership. She pointed out that it is best to consider only a few with common interest, and to retain the relationship in a longer term.....the issue our universities need to review seriously!
OHEC has shared the survey results on IZN of Thai universities. The questionnaire is adapted from the American Council on Education (ACE), with the assistance of the US Embassy for permission.
It was a great start that could well lead to more macro-pictures of our own development and some benchmarking projects with the US universities. Heard that it will post on the website soon ka.
Abou 30% of the overall higher education institutions responded. It showed that most universities have IZN in their mission statements...though questions about the real implementation and assessment remain. I couldn't help saying that '"the word, 'have' doesn't always mean 'do' and the word 'do' doesn't mean 'do well'"
For Fulbright Thailand, we've been cooperating with OHEC since the very first day it started its IZN policy following the 15-year Long-range Plan on Higher Education (1990-2004). We've made a few suggestions for future directions including consideration of engaging the M generation, the need to promote IZN according to the stages of development and context of respective universities, lintegrate the quality assurance systems with the IZN issues/efforts.
I also wish to share with you what issues we raised and would need further discussion ka:
1. Finding strategic indicators
2. Enhancing English proficiency and cross-culture
3. Encouraging higher education collaboration for mutual benefits
4. Benchmarking
5. Maximizing IZN benefits for the mass
6. Working more on global citizenship
7. Developing a knowledge bank for further learning and training
Again, lots to do even when we say we've achieved quite a great deal! Ajarn Poonpipop from KU kept repeating to us that whatever we do, we need to be reminded of our role as a higher education institution with crucial role and responsibilities for the society!
Happy Monday na ka.
