The evolution of internationalization initiatives at three highly selective U.S. research universities

“Arguing against globalization is like arguing against the laws of gravity.” This statement by Former United Nations Secretary General Kofi Anan acknowledges the growing pervasiveness and seeming inevitability of global economic and cultural interdependence that characterizes globalization. The benefits and detriments of this phenomenon continue to be debated widely across political, social, cultural and national spectra. Globalization is the set of larger socio-economic forces shaping our world and internationalization is how institutions respond. More specifically, internationalization describes the operational, organizational and strategic processes, policies and practices that institutions put in place in response to globalization. Manifestations in higher education include enhanced study abroad programs, branch campuses, public and private partnerships and increases in international student engagement strategies. In order to better understand internationalization in higher education, this study explores how, why and in what ways internationalization has evolved at three large, highly selective U.S.-based research institutions: Cornell, University of California in Berkeley and New York University. The undertakings at each reflect the unique history, willingness to innovate, organizational culture and aspirations of these highly complex, diverse, public and private institutions. The study explores disparate strategic elements, challenges, obstacles, and opportunities as well as the common and disparate drivers for changing internationalization strategies over time at each and across the three institutions. The findings underscore common themes, such as the importance of linking institutional identity and culture to the strategy; the careful consideration, selection and negotiation of partners; and the serious process and operational planning that need to be made in order to accommodate the new strategy and sustain the altered operation. The findings further affirm that although the approaches are distinctive and one size definitely does not fit all, several broad domains of emphasis emerge as framing mechanisms and shared experiences that might benefit others interested in exploring and understanding internationalization in higher education