Key Components of a Successful International Strategy

The knowledge society has put higher education and research at the centre of policy discussions in many areas of the world. Some institutions are seeking to become global players and internationalisation is a key element of their strategy. Internationalisation alone, however, is not sufficient. In fact, in order to be successful in internationalisation, a university should first have appropriate research and teaching strategies as well as well-functioning university governance and internal quality monitoring systems in place. This article examines the governance and strategy of comprehensive universities that have international aspirations. Developed in the context of an EUA audit of a French research-intensive university, and drawing on the outcomes of a variety of EUA studies and programmes, the article should be of interest to many other universities with different profiles, since all universities are under pressure to develop better governance and management.