New Reports on Dual and Joint Degrees

I read the following on GlobalHigherEd - always a useful source...

...two new releases about international double and joint degrees — one (The Graduate International Collaborations Project: A North American Perspective on Joint and Dual Degree Programs) by the North American Council of Graduate Schools (CGS), and one (Joint and Double Degree Programs: An Emerging Model for Transatlantic Exchange) by the International Institute for Education (IIE) and the Freie Universität Berlin — remind us of the emerging desire to craft more focused, intense and ‘deep’ relations between universities versus the current approach which amounts to the promiscuous acquisition of hundreds if not thousands of memoranda of understanding (MoUs).

The IIE/Freie Universität Berlin book (link here for the table of contents) addresses various aspects of this development process:

The book seeks to provide practical recommendations on key challenges, such as communications, sustainability, curriculum design, and student recruitment. Articles are divided into six thematic sections that assess the development of collaborative degree programs from beginning to end. While the first two sections focus on the theories underpinning transatlantic degree programs and how to secure institutional support and buy-in, the third and fourth sections present perspectives on the beginning stages of a joint or double degree program and the issue of program sustainability. The last two sections focus on profiles of specific transatlantic degree programs and lessons learned from joint and double degree programs in the European context.

It is clear that international joint and double degrees are becoming a genuine phenomenon; so much so that key institutions including the IIE, the CGS, and the EU are all paying close attention to the degrees’ uses, abuses, and efficacy. Thus we should view this new book as an attempt to both promote, but in a manner that examines the many forces that shape the collaborative process across space and between institutions. International partnerships are not simple to create, yet they are being demanded by more and more stakeholders. Why? Dissatisfaction that the rhetoric of ‘internationalization’ does not match up to the reality, and there is a ‘deliverables’ problem.

Indeed, we hosted some senior Chinese university officials here in Madison several months ago and they used the term “ghost MoUs”, reflecting their dissatisfaction with filling filing cabinet after filing cabinet with signed MoUs that lead to absolutely nothing. In contrast, engagement via joint and double degrees, for example, or other forms of partnership (e.g., see International partnerships: a legal guide for universities), cannot help but deepen the level of connection between institutions of higher education on a number of levels. It is easy to ignore a MoU, but not so easy to ignore a bilateral scheme with clearly defined deliverables, a timetable for assessment, and a budget.

Debate: the Real Value of Global Education

Last week, this article was published in the New York Times as part of a special series on international education.

The article -- and a great collection of readers' comments -- assessed the practical value for individuals pursuing MBA international business degrees. However, I think the arguments can be applied across higher education.

In part, readers debate the value of (short-term) international experiences. (See here, here and here for related posts on this blog).

As we shape the future of international and cross-cultural learning, we should remind ourselves of what we're trying to achieve, and see how study abroad is connected to the core curriculum.

Twenty Years After the Berlin Wall

Last week I posted about Europe's 9/11. Tomorrow, November 9 - marks twenty years since the Fall of the Berlin Wall.

There's great media coverage of this historic occasion. The New York Times (see here) provides good articles and photos. They also provide some great links to other media outlets.

Ireland Faces Economic Challenges

As we prepare next Summer's study abroad program, I've followed the news in Ireland. Later today, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions will launch a massive protest in eight different cities. The ICTU opposes government plans to stabilize public finances through deep cuts in education, health and social services. They propose a different approach to Irish economic recovery called A Better, Fairer Way.

There are no easy choices in public finance right now. This Summer's Ireland study program will take a closer look at the alternatives and the implications of decisions that will shape that country's future.

Leadership Lessons from Harvard University President

One of the columns I follow in the New York Times is in the Sunday Business section, called "The Corner Office". This column prints interviews with CEOs - always focused on their insights on leadership.

This past Sunday, I saw an interview with Drew Gilpin Faust. Though not explicitly linked to international scholarship, it's worth reading.

A couple of excerpts...

I think the most important leadership lessons I’ve learned have to do with understanding the context in which you are leading. Universities are places with enormously distributed authority and many different sorts of constituencies, all of whom have a stake in that institution.

One of the things that I’ve thought a lot about with Lincoln is how he dealt with people. Partly what Doris Kearns Goodwin has written about is at the heart of this, which is a team of rivals, bringing different people together. But what I take from that effort is that Lincoln would not allow someone to be his enemy. You just were hard-pressed to be mad at him, because he’d be after you, again, in a way that used his power, his charm and his intelligence to bring you around, to be an ally. So I’ve thought about that a lot, as I’ve thought about the politics of the university and having to deal with people who might disagree with you, who might not like your decisions, to not let that turn into enmity, but to always bring people back around to being contributors.

Europe's 9/11

This Monday (9 November, 2009) marks the 20th anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall. Americans tend to under-appreciate the importance of this occasion.

Our good colleague Gareth Harding just published an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal on what this date means to him. I recommend it to you, along with a recent lecture he presented at MU's School of Journalism.

Fulbright at Missouri

This year, MU is listed as one of the top producers of faculty Fulbright awards. Please see the following notice in the Chronicle of Higher Education.

http://chronicle.com/article/Top-Producers-of-Fulbright/48854/

Our recent success is largely due to the assistance and encouragement of a network of over 40 MU Fulbright alumni.

November 16-20 is designated worldwide as International Education Week. MU will commemorate this week with a series of events – with special focus on the Fulbright program.

Recently, Fulbright published a brief for university leaders on the benefits of faculty participation. I hope you will find it helpful.