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INTERNATIONALIZATION STRATEGIES
8
SUPPORT FOR ACADEMICS VOL. 1
SUPPORT FOR ACADEMICS VOL. 2
INDIVIDUAL CONSULTATIONS
PROVIDING INFORMATION BY REGULAR MAILING
How are the academics supposed to know about such a huge number of new calls for proposals, brokerage meetings, fellowships, stipends and many others? Of course they have to keep up the pace and be familiar with news and gossips in their own domains but the diversity of offers and various complex sources of information often make them feel misguided and confused. It is IROs' task to step in and offer its knowledge and guidance.
IROs should provide academic staff with individual consultancy services in the areas such as project management, writing grant applications, looking for international cooperation opportunities, scholarships and fellowships abroad, networking opportunities etc.
Each scholar has individual needs therefore it is important to:
identify those needs and lacking skills
look for solutions
discuss with the scholar the ways of improving their skills and developing their careers
That's why IROs have to function like press agencies, spamming the academic staff with loads of information they may find beneficial.
IT'S A WIN-WIN-SITUATION!
This process brings benefits to both sides because - first of all, academics are well informed and they can easily browse through information provided by IROs and save time and - on the other hand - IROs increase chances that some academics will actually use some of this information, which means - IROs will increase the level of success!
Good practice no. 2
Know the voice of your people
Visit organizations which play significant role in your region and can support your institution
Participate in international projects so that you can pose for nice pictures such as this one :)
In order to identify the real needs of our staff and any lacking skills, at Jan Kochanowski University we organize surveys and questionnaires designed for academics:
Good practice no. 4
- anonymous surveys
where respondents refer to questions they would be very resilient to answer openly, in that way IROs can obtain very precious and sincere feedback on e.g. areas that the whole institution should work on (such as recruitment process, functioning of institution's authorities)
Analyze your recruitment procedure:
* is it compliant with national law?
* is it fair to both genders?
* is it open and transparent on every stage?
* does it favor competence and experience despite a candidate's origin, gender, religion and social status?
Meaning - is the recruitment procedure in your institution attractive to potential foreign employees? Would they like to work at your university having your current procedures at their disposal? If yes - then congratulations, please continue. If no - think about the ways to improve this situation. Maybe there are national or regional organizations which specialize in solving such problems.
Good practice no. 6
- non-anonymous questionnaires
where respondents describe individually the areas in which they think they need support in any form provided by IROs
Stand up and show yourself!
Pay much attention to online visibility. You know what they say...you're not visible on the web? Well, you probably don't exist...
For several years, European Commission has been granting "HR AWARD" to institutions which align their recruitment regulations and laws to the EC standards (principles of the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers). Such an award proves that a given institution will conduct a fair recruitment for its future employees which encourages candidates to search for employment in this particular institution. This directly increases the level of internationalization by, initially, increasing the number of foreign reseearchers.
Jan Kochanowski University was granted the HR Award in February 2017.
Some time ago Jan Kochanowski University modified and updated its website in the areas concerning international cooperation, which resulted in many more cooperation offers almost instantly.
Organize as many events as possible - boost knowledge & skills of your staff
Good practice no. 3
JOIN THE MORE POWERFUL
Remember that:
* put your contact details in a visible place so that potential foreign collaborates can find you easily
* your website should have a English version
* show visitors the main duties and objectives of your IRO, as well as any successes
* show your visitors that you are open to new cooperation opportunities
* there are multiple ways of online self-promotion: website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, local media, specialist portals for academic institutions such as CORDIS in Europe
Sometimes it is difficult to achieve your goals on your own, especially when you are a young, small or regional institution. Think about joining bigger, more complex organizations which function on a grander scale and have many more opportunities to find, commence and maintain international cooperation with other entities. Such organizations may offer you support and guidance through various processes connected with establishing international relations. They can invite you international conferences and other events, as well as arrange meetings with potential foreign collaborates and promote your institutions among its members.
Jan Kochanowski University is a member of e.g.:
* Conference of Rectors of Academic Schools in Poland
* Conference of Rectors of Polish Universities
IMPROVEMENT
Forms of self-education can be
sought outside, e.g. in
professional training companies
but can also be realized in-house
- if an institution employs
sufficient and competent staff
who can work as tutors/
training officers
TRAININGS
COOPERATION
VOL. 1
CONFERENCES
SEMINARS
COOPERATION
VOL. 1
NON-ACADEMIC SECTOR
WORKSHOPS
IT'S RIGHT UNDER YOUR NOSE...
MEETING EXPERTS & PROJECT MANAGERS
Employees (academic and non-academic) have to improve their knowledge, competence and skills constantly. They have to be mobile and participate in various events organized on a state or international level where they can practice networking with other specialists/scientists and institutions, exchange know-how, join various groups and associations - thus increase the level of internationalization of their entities.
In every higher education institution there are bodies, associations, departments and offices for matters related to international affairs, although their primary objectives may differ. However, what connects all of them is the common objective to increase the level of internationalization.
INFO DAYS
Good practice no. 1
Department of Innovation
Jan Kochanowski University provides its academic employees with regular trainings, workshops and info days which aim at developing theoretical knowledge and practical skills in various areas such as:
International Relation Offices
project budget construction
KEY ACTIVITIES
to be performed by IROs
Being an academic institution doesn't mean that you have to limit your cooperation partners to the academic sector only. True and highly beneficial results come out of cooperation among academics and the non-academic sector. Non-academic actors participate in numbers of networking activities, they have their own chains of cooperation, joint events and means to search for such a cooperation. Joining those means may open some doors for you which otherwise would be closed for "outsiders".
Look for cooperation opportunities outside academia, e.g. in:
private companies
non-governmental institutions
business surrounding institutions e.g. chambers of commerce
governmental bodies
BETTER STAFF MEANS BETTER UNIVERSITY
project management
Undoubtedly, there is a direct link between the level of competence of an institution's staff and the level of internationalization of this institution. Therefore, it is impossible to undertake a certain number of simple "actions to increase the level of internationalization". This is a long, complex and multi-layered process which starts at the very bottom.
The material you're reading now is an attempt to explain the equation "better staff = better internationalization" and to provide you with practical knowledge, advice, supported by examples of good practices introduced at Jan Kochanowski University in Poland.
Good practice no. 5
Department
of Science
search for foreign partners
GO PRO
HR Department
writing a successful research grant
INTERNATIONALIZATION
and many more...
Our International Cooperation Office comes up with a subject for a proper training, realizes recruitment, provides venue, training materials, prepares media presentations and staff who realize the training as tutors