The Mission
This ARC8 Expert Group will discuss the opportunities, risks, and challenges related to inclusion in internationalisation of higher education. and develop a chapter dedicated to this topic in the ARC8 Outlook Report 2030: Inclusive and Diverse Higher Education in Asia and Europe.
The ARC8 Expert Group will present their chapter at the ARC8 Conference on 10 September 2021. During their session, the experts will present recommendations on advancing inclusion in international exchanges to the ASEM Senior Officials and university leaders in Asia and Europe.
Key topics discussed in this chapter are: equity in internationalisation, balanced mobility, access to opportunities, underrepresented groups in internationalisation, virtual exchanges, internationalisation at home, intercultural exchanges.
Expert Group Members
ARC8 Expert Group Sessions
In the span of 8 months, ARC8 Experts share knowledge and discuss specific opportunities, risks, and challenges related to inclusive international mobility of people and knowledge. During each Expert Group Session, two ARC8 Experts give a 10-minute presentation each. After every presentation, members of the Expert Group ask questions, give comments, and contribute towards making the discussion more in-depth.
These ARC8 Expert Group sessions are essential to the process of developing the output, an entire chapter dedicated to the specific topic as part of the report ARC8 Outlook 2030: Inclusion and Diversity in Higher Education in Asia and Europe.
The PowerPoint Presentations of experts and the summary of their presentations are made available here.
Session Summaries
Presentation of Mr Darren MCDERMOTT, Team Leader Designate, EU-SHARE Programme
Presentation of Prof Miki SUGIMURA, Vice President for Global Academic Affairs, Sophia University, Japan
Miki gave a 10-minute presentation. She began the presentation by introducing Sophia University and numerous examples of initiatives supporting international mobility.
According to Prof Miki, a main element that should be considered when rethinking internationalisation is the element of evaluating learning outcomes. She points out that the OECD developed a comprehensive project focusing on the evaluation of critical thinking and creativity. Sophia University joined this project to create a system for evaluating student learning outcomes.
Miki also elaborated on the opportunities and challenges in internationalization based on her extensive experience in Sophia University. She proceeded to discuss with the impact of the COVID-19 on internationalization and showcase good practices for inclusion under these unprecedented circumstances.
For example, in consideration of the COVID-19 impact on mobility, Miki identified the opportunity of introduction blended/hybrid internationalization activities.
In the case of Sophia University, it is moving towards a more flexible and diversified system of learning in higher education. It has joined the ASEAN International mobility for student program (AIMS), which initiated by Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand; and has since brought on board a more regional based approach.
Presentation of Ms Irina Ferencz, Director, Academic Cooperation Association (ACA)
Irina gave a 10-minute presentation. She began her presentation by conceptualising inclusion in International Higher Education (IHE). She presented a variety of definitions.
Based on the definition of the Bologna Follow-up Group (BFUG), the social dimension of inclusion is defined as “the creation of an inclusive environment in higher education that fosters equity and diversity, and is responsive to the needs of local communities” (BFUG Advisory Group 1 for Social Dimension, 2020).
From the context of internationalisation, inclusion is defined as “the process of taking targeted measures to correct access inequalities of specific underrepresented groups to internationalisation activities and/or to their full benefits. (ACA Reflection Paper, 2019).
Irina then proceeded to discusses the target groups and asked who it is that should be further included in international higher education.
Presentation of Ms Olivia PARCZYK, Liaison Officer for Asia, Erasmus Student Network (ESN)
Olivia gave a 10-minute presentation. She began the presentation by defining inclusion. As a starting point, the dictionary definition of inclusivity is “striving to give people access to the same facilities and wanting to enable them to take part in the same activities.”
In Olivia’s own words, “inclusion is the most important point. Inclusion is wanting students to enjoy the same experiences as anyone else.”
With regard to the status quo of inclusion in internationalisation activities in higher education, Olivia introduced the concept of phases. She determined that the Status Quo is in-between the phase of raising awareness and adapting the structures towards inclusivity and diversity. In this regard, society has developed beyond the first phase: noticing disparity. However, the status quo is yet to reach actual inclusivity which is the ultimate end goal.
Presented by Dr Huan Tuong VO, Deputy Director, International Office, International University (Viet Nam National University Ho Chi Minh City)
Huan gave a 10-minute presentation which focused on the following 3 questions, to provide food for thought for the expert group:
- What is your take, how inclusive are higher education internationalisation policies and practices currently, what is the status quo?
- What potential risks do you foresee that could jeopardize greater inclusion in HE internationalisation in the next 10 years?
- What opportunities, leverage points do you see to promote in HE internationalisation in the next 10 years?
The presentation of Huan came from the standpoint of an academic in Viet Nam with a focus on internationalisation in higher education.
Presentation of Ms Ginisha DEWANI, Deputy Head Programs & Projects and Events Coordinator (Asia), International Association of Political Science Students (IAPSS)
Ginisha gave a 10-minute presentation. She began the presentation by emphasizing the differences within a community and need to accept these differences within the discussion on inclusion. She proceeded to define key terms used in the discussion on inclusion, such as:
- Accessibility: this relates to access to infrastructure, clean spaces, knowledge resources, technology, tools, bandwidth connections etc.
- Equity: this relates to rural-urban, geographical, gender based, disabled, LGBTQ, persons with special needs.
- Affordability: this relates to financial resources provided by government, universities, educational bodies and personal.
- Accountability: this relates to education system and governments are generating adequate return or outcome via education or with mobility of education.
⇒ View the Summary of Presentation here
⇒ View and Download PPT Presentation here
What our experts said...
