How can quality assurance efforts promote global engagement in higher education?

1 Define your goals

The first step to ensure quality in your global engagement activities is to define your goals and objectives clearly. What are the expected outcomes and benefits of your global engagement for your institution, your students, your faculty, and your partners? How do they align with your mission, vision, and values? How will you measure and evaluate your progress and impact? By articulating your goals, you can establish a clear direction and purpose for your global engagement, and communicate it effectively to your stakeholders.

2 Develop your policies

The next step is to develop your policies and procedures that will guide your global engagement activities. These policies should cover aspects such as curriculum design and delivery, student mobility and exchange, faculty development and collaboration, research ethics and integrity, quality assurance and accreditation, and risk management and mitigation. Your policies should reflect your goals, standards, and expectations, and be consistent with international best practices and norms. They should also be transparent, accessible, and adaptable to different contexts and situations.

3 Engage your partners

Another key step is to engage your partners in your global engagement activities. Your partners can include other higher education institutions, governmental and non-governmental organizations, industry and employers, alumni and donors, and local and global communities. Your partners can provide valuable insights, resources, and opportunities for your global engagement, and help you address the needs and interests of diverse stakeholders. To engage your partners effectively, you should establish clear roles and responsibilities, mutual trust and respect, regular communication and feedback, and joint decision-making and problem-solving.

4 Enhance your capacity

The fourth step is to enhance your capacity to deliver quality global engagement activities. This means investing in the development of your human, physical, and financial resources, as well as your systems and processes. You should provide adequate training, support, and recognition for your staff and faculty who are involved in global engagement, and ensure that they have the necessary skills, knowledge, and attitudes. You should also ensure that you have the appropriate infrastructure, technology, and equipment to facilitate your global engagement, and that you have sufficient funding and sustainability plans to support your activities.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?