Internationalization of Higher Education

Global perspective

Dr. Pankaj KhareIGNOU, New Delhipkhare@ignou.ac.in

A story compiled by Prof. Anurag Saxena, SOMS, IGNOU

The Parable of the Hare & the Hedgehog

The Challenge

One day the hedgehog challenged

the hare to have race with him. 

The hare, being sure of his victory,

accepted the challenge without

hesitation.

The Race

The race started at the entrance to the vineyard.

After they started, the hare ran fast, while the hedgehog, snorting in the air, took his time and loitered along the boundaries.

The Result

Surprise! When the hare, totally

exhausted, appeared at the end of the vineyard, the hedgehog was already there

"I was waiting for you. You have taken

lot of time."

Return Race

The hare, too proud to concede victory, proposed a return match.

Again, when he crossed the finish line at the end of the field, the hedgehog, not at all breathless, waited.

The score never changed. The hedgehog was always at the finish line before the hare.

Mystery

The hare, exhausted by the races, couldn't understand why his competitor did not seem to be affected by the races.

The solution to the mystery was obvious; the hedgehog had a twin who waited at the other end of the vineyard.

The hare, however, was not a fool…

He Asked the Hedgehog, whether, during the race, he had seen – the vine stocks heavy with fruits, – the shining dews on the leaves, – the rays of evening light across the rows, – the warm smell coming out of the

perspiring earth

The hedgehog, a little embarrassed, replied,

"What really matters is that I reached the

finish line before you. Is that not true?"

The hare retorted, "What matters to me is having

made a fine journey, full of discoveries and benefiting from the experience. You cheated, and you deprived yourself of the scenery of

nature.

Moral of the story

It is not the question of becoming first and knowing everything in advance.

It is also necessary to be actually on the route.

The theoretical knowledge is not always the best; one should also face the reality, pass through the fire of the things. 

Hare was not convinced

whether, in the end, Hedgehog

really won."

The question of globalization

Why we need to think of internationalization?

Who is getting benefit from? Opportunities vs. options? Delivery mechanisms and

coping with time-zones… Quality assurance… Global competition?

Present scenario

In Indian Sub-continent In Africa In Gulf In Australia In South-East Asia In America and Canada

Nepal Bhutan Afghanistan Pakistan Bangladesh Sri Lanka Maldives

Present scenario – Indian sub-continent

East Africa South Africa West Africa North Africa Small States

Present scenario – Africa

United Arab Emirates Saudi Arabia Iraq & Iran Small States

– Kuwait– Bahrain– Oman

Present scenario – Gulf

America Latin America Australia Europe Pacific South Asia

Present scenario – Others

Internationalization

Promoting the academic programmes cross border

Establishing bilateral and multi-lateral cooperation and exchanges

Sharing resources Sharing experiences Providing consultancies to newly

established/needy universities/ institutions Creating avenues for joint international

programmes

Emerging scenario

Teacher to learner to learning centric education

Teacher

Learner

Learning

Emerging scenario

Web-based delivery of programmes

Core-faculty support

Emerging scenario

Global student – Have options– Independent– Highly motivated– Demanding– Knowledge seeker– Technology oriented

Emerging scenario

Web-based servicesWeb-based servicesfor efficient administrative support (tracking and MIS)for efficient administrative support (tracking and MIS)

Offer of lab-based programmesOffer of lab-based programmes Sharing of resourcesSharing of resources

materials, human resources, experiencesmaterials, human resources, experiences

Joint venturesJoint venturesJoint degree programmes, dual degrees, collaborative Joint degree programmes, dual degrees, collaborative materials development, faculty exchangesmaterials development, faculty exchanges

Challenges and practices

Finding appropriate partners – marrying the mandates and visions – Business model vis-à-vis service

model in education

Local recognition and accreditation

Finding local academic support– Arranging practical/labs/viva-voce

Challenges and practices

Meeting local cultural and contextual needs

Quality assurance and monitoring

Professional expectations from global learning community

The hedgehog, a little embarrassed, replied,

"What really matters is that I reached the

finish line before you. Is that not true?"

The hare retorted, "What matters to me is having

made a fine journey, full of discoveries and benefiting from the experience. You cheated, and you deprived yourself of the scenery of

nature.

Moral of the storyfrom institutional point of view

It is not the question of becoming first and knowing everything in advance.

Institutions need not to imitate other institutions

It is also necessary to be actually on the route.

Identify the need of globalization and crossing the border; are there takers? Need assessment…

The theoretical knowledge is not always the best; one should also face the reality, pass through the fire of the things. 

Introspection of strengths and weaknesses.

and...

are we there when are we there when they need us...?they need us...?

A presentation by

Dr. Pankaj Kharepkhare@ignou.ac.in