Implementing the Internationalisation Agenda

INTERNATIONALISATION STRATEGIC PLANS AND IMPLEMENTATION
By Dato Prof. Ir. Dr. Sahol Hamid Abu Bakar

Introduction

Internationalization has become an important aspect of universities development in the world arena with globalization and the need to close gaps between countries. More and more Universities throughout the world in the past 2 decades have laid out plans to internationalize their universities. Many best practices can be seen around the world and in Universities in Malaysia. There are Universities in Malaysia that have made many plans had made many progress but some are still moving slowly without achieving the required target by the country. Many Universities around the world who have been long time players have now emerged as top Universities in the world and earning potential sums of funding from foreign students.

The Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia has launched its strategic plan to have Malaysian Universities to be recognized around world. One aspect of the plan is definitely internationalization. Without internationalization we cannot put Malaysia’s name in the world map and our Universities cannot be named as top Universities in the world. A consorted effort should be taken to plan, communicate, implement, monitor and audit all the strategic process to achieve the target required .A high quality status output are targeted.

This paper outlines a simple process on how to achieve the strategic plans targeted. What needs to be done immediately, How to do it? How to communicate? How to monitor? How to audit and how to achieve the target without too much fuss? How to manage the success required and to ensure the quality needed will show the maturity of the Ministry. This paper is only a preliminary thought and it’s a draft that may be used to enhance the whole process based what has been planned.

Modus Operandi

The following are suggestions on how to implement the plans

Many Universities have made their own plans. Many Universities are just moving along. Real measurable achievements are too few to be named. There has been no monitoring or audit on the success. Many plans have also failed. Having a PMO set up as suggested in the strategic plans will be first time monitoring and audit system put into place to ensure the quality and the output targets are achieved. This will ensure all the Universities will participate and will know exactly each other s capability and they can compare their relative achievements.

Steps to be suggested

1. A interim committee that has been set up will study the plans and suggest the implementations steps. The PMO will be required to implement the entire process
2. List down all that needs to be done according to categories. Many committees previously have listed many of the activities under internationalization. These documents need to be retrieved and studied and the list needs to be brought forward for implementation. The following aspects can be chosen to be listed
i. Students
ii. Lecturers
iii. Faculty
iv. The University
v. Research
vi. Curriculum
vii. Others aspects

3. Best Practices around the world have also been recorded and a number of teams have also visited a number of countries and have submitted their report. A committee or Special Interest group made up of Universities lecturers need to be formed to highlight the best practices that need to be implemented. This SIG should continue to exist and do further studies on the best practices and continue to advise the PMO for further implementations. USM had been given the task for studying best practices but so far no report have been made or even shared. There have been problems in most cases when there is no monitoring.
4. With the knowledge and the full list of what need to be done our Minister should be able to launch one aspect of the entire plan that is Internationalization. PMO will immediately take over the communication, implementation, monitoring ands the audit of what need to be done and what have been done
5. A seminar / meeting need to be held calling all the relevant parties involved in the Internationalization of the University. A full briefing of what need to be done is to be shared. How is to be done. The launching and the keynote address can be by the Minister. Other paper should be very specific to the target and not abstract papers talking about theories and principles. What need to be done? What need to be achieved? Sustainability, the quality required and the continuous improvement that is expected should be explained.
6. With the launching, the PMO will effectively take control of the situation and well put into process the tools for communication, implementation, monitoring, and auditing in place. The PMO is a focus group without any other duties expects to ensure the quality output targeted is achieved. If not they have to intervene before it is domed to fail another natural death. There are components of the Ministry that also deals with Internationalization but they should continue doing what they have been doing without interfering into PMO They can observe and provide suggestion for improvement without undue interference
7. A weekly and monthly progress on the development will be prepared and presented to the Minister. A 6 month review by PMO and followed by yearly report will clearly show the target and what has been achieved.
8. With such a process being implemented all the Universities will have clear guidelines and targets to be achieved and with a proper check and balance all the target set can be achieved. We have to understand 80 percent of the work is in the Universities the other 20% lies with the PMO.
9. The above processes laid out clearly should be properly communicated to all concern parties and full start of implementation should be within 1 month from mid September that in mid October 2007


What needs to be done?

The following are some examples of targets. This list is not exhaustive. Many new ideas can be suggested. There are also many committees report that we may have to study to dig up further what else can be done. It may be nothing new to some Universities but this will be first time all Universities will put their act together to be monitored and audited.

1. Students
i. One semester abroad
ii. To bring the best qualified students around the world to Malaysia and sponsored. The idea to set the roadmap to Nobel prize in Malaysia
iii. Student internship local and abroad
iv. Promotion of international students. (KPT has Units will also may come under the audit process)
v. Student field trip aboard
vi. Host family programs
vii. Enhance credit transfer system
viii. Target 30 % foreign students
ix. Etc

Lecturers

i. Teaching in foreign Universities as visiting professors
ii. Joint research
iii. Sabbatical in foreign Universities
iv. Getting top universities in the world to collaborate
v. Placement in established laboratories
vi. post doctoral
vii. One semester aboard
viii. Our lecturers going around as world class renowned speakers
ix. Co supervise PhD research
x. Become consultant to world organization and Universities
xi. A foreign world class reputed University with an outstanding team to be identified to act a mentor to a Faculty in Malaysian Universities in enriching niche programs
xii. Increase overseas and refereed paper presentations by reward system
xiii. Etc

Curriculum

i. World standard imposed on our curriculum
ii. Professional body recognition to our programs
iii. Futuristic programs as new courses
iv. Close academia industry involvement
v. Inputs from prominent professors
vi. Appointment of adjunct professors in curriculum committee
vii. E-Learning practices and models around the world to be added as value added to learning and teaching
viii. Recognition of all our degrees in OIC and other countries around the world
ix. Etc

Faculty development

i. Double Degree programs with reputable Universities around the world at all levels
ii. More International Convention and Seminars
iii. Promoting Malaysian Universities globally through personal networking
iv. Development of International Linkages database
v. Benchmark faculties against top Universities in the world
vi. Rebranding Faculties based on Universal Trend
vii. University leaders and deans should be committed in bringing about innovations in philosophy,policy,teaching, learning practices and assessment as the pillars in creating excellent prestige as world class university


Research
i. Increase post graduate research masters
ii. Increase referred publications of research
iii. Collaboration with top flight researchers
iv. More International Academic chairs
v. Focused International research groups

Futuristic programs
i. Chemical product design
ii. Forensic ergonomics
iii. Nuclear technology
iv. Packaging Technology
v. Structural engineering and architecture
vi. Biotechnological law and ethics
vii. Finance and Law
viii. Criminology and criminal justice
ix. Engineering design and manufacture
x. Investigative Medicine
xi. Law and Business
xii. Medical Physics
xiii. Nano Science
xiv. Rail systems Engineering
xv. Plus many other that can listed



Conclusion.

The paper outline s some preliminary thoughts that targets easy implementation without undue complication. Simple approach with PMO processes and procedures can achieve the targets needed with the quality in place. The above are some of the preliminary thoughts.