Developing an Institutional Internationalization Strategy: The Case of University of Malaya

1
Developing an Institutional Internationalization
Strategy The Case of University of Malaya

• Rafiah Salim
• President/Vice-Chancellor
• University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur
• Malaysia

2
University of Malaya some facts figures

• Located in Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia
• Established in 1905, countrys oldest and premier
  public university
• Why MALAYA and not MALAYSIA?
• Student population 28,200, 30 at post-graduate
  level
• Faculty strength 1,900
• Designated a research university by the
  Malaysian government in Dec 2006
• More than 3,000 foreign students from 70
  countries

3
Why Being International Is Important to Us

• Philosophical Reason,
• Education is for betterment of nation AND
  humanity
• Formal Reason
• One of the Key Performance Indicator (KPI)
  targets set by Government of Malaysia to
  University of Malaya
• Practical Reason
• Internationalization will lead to increased
  quality and competitiveness
• Enrich the learning experience of our students

4
Main Aspects of Internationalization Strategy

• Redrafting of Mission and Vision Statement
• New Mission Statement To advance knowledge and
  learning through quality research and education
  for the nation and for humanity
• New Vision Statement To be an internationally
  renowned institution of higher learning in
  research, innovation, publication and teaching
• Drawing of New Strategy Map Slide 4
• Set Appropriate KPIs and targets related to
  Internationalization Slide 5

5
The UM Strategy Map
STRATEGIC THEME
Good academic programmes will in turn produce
excellent graduates who fulfill employers
expectations. The production of excellent
graduates, high quality research outputs
commercialised products will provide positive
perception by society and stakeholders.
CUSTOMER /STAKEHOLDERS
Positive Perceptions by Stakeholders, Society and
International Community
Satisfied Employers
Commercialised products
High Quality Research Outputs
Adequate funds are required to support and
develop academic and research activities for the
university.
Excellent Graduates
As the primary business of UM, academic and
research programmes / consultancy services must
excel. The intake / selection of excellent
students contribute towards generation of
excellent graduates. Excellent research
programmes is the core factor of consultancy and
commercialisation efforts which in turn result in
commercialised products.
FINANCIAL
Adequate Fund
INTERNAL PROCESSES
Excellent Management Services
Consultancy Commercialisation
Excellent Academic Programmes
Excellent Research Programmes
Internationalisation and Corporate Comm
Internationalisation efforts strengthen the
academic, research consultancy programmes to
support research based university.
Excellent Incoming Students
Selection of excellent staff including
international staff together with effective
development programmes and excellent
organisational climate result in productive
staff. Consequently it enables good academic and
research programmes.
LEARNING AND GROWTH
Excellent Infrastructure / Facilities
Committed / Productive Staff
Conducive Organisational Climate
Excellent Staff
Effective Staff Development Programmes
Good infrastructure excellent facilities are
critical for a research university.
6
KPIs Related to Internationalization

• of international u/grad p/grad students
• of international faculty members
• Number of memorandum of understanding/agreements/c
  ollaboration with international institutions
• Number of international promotions/events
  undertaken by faculties/department/schools
• International students satisfaction level with
  support services
• Rewards for publications in internationally
  recognized journals (ISI and Scopus)

7
Additional Steps to Increase Internationalization

• Establish linkages with reputable foreign
  institutions in UK rest of Europe, Australia,
  Middle East, Indonesia, China, Vietnam, Korea,
  Japan and the USA

8
Linkages with US institutions

• Architectural studies with University of Southern
  California
• Medical research with Yale
• Oceanography marine research with University of
  California, San Diego
• UMs Continuing Education Center with iCarnegie
  (Carnegie-Mellon)
• Business accountancy studies with California
  State University
• Development Economics with Columbia University

9
Additional Steps to Increase Internationalization
(cont.)

• Participation in international academic fairs,
  expos, conferences, seminars
• Intensification of overseas marketing
• Intake of international students up by 170 in
  2007
• Encourage staff appointments to international
  academic bodies
• Encourage staff to be appointed as external
  examiners to other universities around the world

10
Additional Steps to Increase Internationalization
(cont.)

• Appointment of eminent international scholars to
  professorial chairs (e.g. Prof. Jeffrey Sachs of
  Columbia University as UM Chair Professor in
  Poverty Studies)
• Recognition by international institutions/bodies
• Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and
  Wales (ICAEW) and Chartered Professional
  Accountants (CPA) of Australia for accounting
  degree
• Accreditation by Association of MBAs (UK) for MBA
  program
• Institute of Physics Engineering, United Kingdom
  for Master in Medical Physics
• Royal College of Surgeons, England for dentistry
  Master degrees
• Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, United
  Kingdom for degrees in property management,
  quantity building surveying
• Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) for
  architecture degree
• World Health Organizations accreditation of
  Medical Faculty as a Collaborating Centre for
  Arbovirus Reference and Research
• Washington Accord accreditation for engineering
  degree

11
Additional Steps to Increase Internationalization
(cont.)

• Intensifying efforts to attract high caliber
  foreign academic staff
• international faculty increased by 180 in 2007
• Making it compulsory for academic staff to obtain
  PhD qualifications from reputable foreign
  universities
• Making it compulsory for sabbaticals to be spent
  at reputable universities abroad
• Recruiting international post-doctorates

12
Additional Steps to Increase Internationalization
(cont.)

• Post-graduate grants program established to
  attract top local and international students
• Establishment of International Students Centre
• Designation upgrading of campus housing for
  international faculty/students
• Requirement of foreign external examiners from
  reputable institutions for all academic programs
• All international assessors are from reputable
  institutions for promotions/appointments to
  professorship

13
Challenges

• Relatively unknown reputation among universities
  from non-British Commonwealth countries, except
  within Asia
• Culture gap between foreign students and staff
  and local students and staff

14
Why Malaysia?

• Peaceful nation with stable economic and
  political climate
• Muslim nation that practices real Islamic
  teachings based on peace and respect for
  diversity
• Nation that practices democracy
• First class international and domestic transport,
  housing, medical, financial, food and utilities
• Summer for 12 months in a year

15
Thank you
and please come and visit Malaysia and
University of Malaya