The Drive to Internationalize: Perceptions and Motivations of Israeli College Directors

Abstract

Given the relatively high degree of academic freedom granted to institutions in Israel in conjunction with the lack of governmental policy on internationalization, directors of higher education institutions comprise key agents in the institutional internationalization process that is taking place in Israeli higher education. In this study, we took a qualitative approach to explore the views and attitudes of seven college directors in Israel. We show that motivation for internationalization is a multifaceted phenomenon influenced by the college directors' personal characteristics as well as by the colleges' contextual factors. Moreover, it seems that second-tier colleges use internationalization to promote themselves towards the status of first-tier research universities. The study provides a first insight into the perceptions and motivations of Israeli educational institutions' leaders regarding the development of institutional-level internationalization strategies.

Internationalization Strategies and Policies in Second-Tier Higher Education Institutions

“…Notably, Israeli college directors interviewed in a previous study by two of the authors (Yemini et al 2014a) interpret internationalization in differing manners, depending on the characteristics of the institutions they lead (as per Knight 2004). Indeed, Yemini et al (2014a) found that although all second-tier Israeli colleges function under strict financial constraints and strive to upgrade their status and to compete with established research universities, it seems that colleges' orientation, population and location are the most influential factors regarding their motivation to internationalize.…”

“…These reasons include the relatively less developed research programs at such institutions (indeed, research often provides an international platform for collaborative teaching and learning); inadequate financial and other resources; and sometimes also a lack of prestige and academic reputation, which hinders and challenges the development of international connections (Yemini et al 2014a). Nevertheless, the barriers to internationalization are not sector-specific.…”

“…In Israel, second-tier higher education institutions exploit internationalization to elevate their status and expand in their study programs (Yemini et al 2014a). As in other countries like Norway (Kyvik 2002), the Netherlands (De Wit 2012) or the US (Coelen 2014), structural reforms in the Israeli higher education system tend to encourage second-tier institutions to attain a first-tier status through internationalization, among other initiatives.…”

“…Indeed, internationalization's mainstreaming results in its expansion beyond the traditional scope of research-oriented universities, including other types of education providers: in particular community colleges, applied sciences schools, and other institutions that typically proliferated with education's global massification trends and the rising public access to higher education (Yemini et al 2014a). Research into internationalization in such 'second-tier' 2 institutions is lacking, with the exception of a few focused studies (De Wit 2011;Maringe 2009;Raby and Valeau 2007;Waechter 1999;Yemini et al 2014a).…”

“…Research into internationalization in such 'second-tier' 2 institutions is lacking, with the exception of a few focused studies (De Wit 2011;Maringe 2009;Raby and Valeau 2007;Waechter 1999;Yemini et al 2014a). The present study aims to characterize the nature of internationalization within 'second-tier' higher education institutions in Israel, the Netherlands, and Canada, describing the process on national, regional, and institutional levels.…”