Opening International Pathways: An Analysis of the Internationalization Rationales for Developing \u272+2\u27-style Vertical Articulation Agreements with Global Institutions

The University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) has a legislated mandate to create college-to-university transfer pathways, and a strategic plan which sets out expectations to internationalize the university. While UOIT has a well-developed set of pathways from Ontario colleges, UOIT has only recently joined other Ontario universities in creating ‘2+2\u27–style pathway or articulation agreements with international institutions. The models for these agreements are numerous (2+2, 3+1+1, etc.), with any number of possible permutations. The rationales for these arrangements are also numerous, and vary based on type and direction of the arrangement, the context of the home institution and home country, and the priorities of the receiving Ontario university, amongst other factors. This paper explores those rationales and analyzes them within the context of the broader internationalization of higher education, with a particular focus on the possibility of college-to- university transfer pathways across borders. This paper will situate the development of international college-to-university transfer pathways within both the literature on international education and the literature on post-secondary transferability, identify key unresolved issues for understanding these specific types of international pathways, and further explore the possible benefits of this “niche” pathway approach for UOIT’s burgeoning internationalization efforts