GLOBAL INSTINCT INTERNATIONAL STRATEGY 2016 2020 1
CONTENTS 4 Global instinct 6 Values 8 Changing the game 12 Global people 22 Global network 30 Student focus
WE HAVE A GLOBAL INSTINCT INTERNATIONAL: De Montfort University s (DMU s) strong reputation, distinctive personality and real achievements have given us the poise and confidence to widen the sweep of our global reach. It s our natural next move, and a logical expression of the university s duty to use knowledge, skills and connections to benefit every life it touches. 4 OUR SECOND NATURE OUR SECOND LANGUAGE #DMUglobal has changed forever the biochemistry of the DMU community. The International is in our collective bloodstream; Where next? is always the next question. Here we ll explore the next how and what and why, too: our increased global ambition for our teaching, learning, research and student experience; how that will harness our signature creativity and innovation; how we ll build on our tenets of excellence, diversity and collaboration. The hand we extend will continue to carry DMU to the world, and bring the world s thinkers and makers into our community, for the good of all. We aim to change our global profile so all points of interest, and possibility, can be seen from where we are, and so we become a vivid presence on the horizon of others. Nowhere should lie beyond our signal strength, and those we want to work with will be able to enter into the DMU community through doorways, real and virtual, way beyond the sphere of campus. We will see the world through fresh eyes and secure a global future for our students, staff and the university. By 2020, DMU will be the definition of a 21st century global university. James Gardner Pro Vice-Chancellor Strategic and International Partnerships 5
INGRAINING OUR VALUES, BUILDING A HIGHER AND WIDER #DMUglobal Our global ethos is founded on excellence: we engage in high-quality and sustainable international activities; on diversity: we embrace our diversity and promote intercultural understanding; on collaboration: we collaborate to realise our ambitions; on global citizenship: we demonstrate a positive impact on global communities; on creativity: we adopt bold, innovative approaches to thinking globally. 6 The introduction of #DMUglobal, the university s pioneering international experience programme, has added a new dimension to teaching, living and learning at DMU. Devised in response to the UK Government s challenge to UK universities to send more British students overseas as part of their studies, #DMUglobal has defied conventional practice in the sector and enabled widespread international experience. Since its launch in 2014, more than 3,000 DMU students have gained international experience as part of their studies, taking up opportunities in more than 60 countries including Brazil, India, China and the USA. After little more than 12 months, #DMUglobal is now one of the largest mobility schemes of its kind in any UK university. The phenomenal success of #DMUglobal can be attributed to the creative, dynamic and innovative approach adopted by DMU students and staff from across the university in order to meet an ambitious challenge: to send 50 per cent of our students overseas as part of their studies during the next five years. The introduction of #DMUglobal has set DMU on a trajectory to become a 21st century global university. Building on the success of #DMUglobal by expanding its impact across our teaching, learning, research and student experience is the major emphasis of this strategy. By applying the same creative and innovative approaches which have come to characterise #DMUglobal we will transform our global profile and become a truly global university. 7 VALUES
CHANGING 1. GLOBAL PEOPLE Learning Thinking globally, we will embed international experiences at every level in all of our teaching, learning and experiences. 8 THE GAME Language We will connect cultures by making language and cultural learning available to all staff and students, and offer flexible models of pre-sessional and in-sessional English. 9 #DMUglobal was a textbook game-changer: an idea driving a significant shift in the way things are done. Because we are DMU, we want to do that again, with fresh focus on newly evolved themes. Movement We will introduce flexibility within our programme structures to enable single-term, credit-bearing mobility and allow wider access to DMU at intake points throughout the year. We will shape our programmes to support international mobility for all and launch a comprehensive development and mobility programme, Global Envoys. Technology We will employ leading technologies to create a virtual campus which enables global collaboration and connectivity.
2. A GLOBAL NETWORK 3. STUDENT ENGAGEMENT Partnerships and global footprint We will develop innovative transnational education (TNE) partnerships in key countries to make DMU a truly global university. Research We will create a pump-prime funding mechanism to support our researchers to establish global research networks. Recruitment We will introduce a World Standard a groundbreaking package of promises and pledges to revolutionise our international student experience and make DMU a leading choice for international students. 10 Showcasing Working with high-profile global partners and alumni to promote DMU, we will showcase at major global events such as the UK Government s GREAT Festivals of Creativity. Engagement We will establish a prestigious global student award, The Home Planet Prize, to recognise students who gain international experience. 11 GAME CHANGERS
GLOBAL 12 PEOPLE: 13 OUR VISION Our staff and students want to make a positive contribution in communities around the world. We will nurture a teaching environment which supports an international outlook and give our staff and students access to language and cultural learning. We will shape our programmes to enable diverse student mobility opportunities and ensure our staff are also given the chance of international experience. In order to foster benefits on our campus, we will use the latest technologies to create a virtual campus connecting us to an interchange with the world.
LEARNING: GLOBAL LEARNING, TEACHING AND THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE We enable global learning within the curricula by embedding overseas and UK-based international experiences at every level in all our academic programmes. 14 We encourage a global outlook in all our teaching, including case studies, when demonstrating real-life scenarios, and when giving examples of industry-based applications. We ensure our students are prepared for the global workplace by integrating global competencies into our learning and supporting international work experience. We enhance the rich diversity already at DMU by enabling platforms for intercultural learning between staff, students and our local communities. Key Performance Targets Proportion of students who have #DMUglobal experience Key Performance Indicators Number of participants in overseas and on UK-based #DMUglobal international experiences Number of programmes with an integrated #DMUglobal international experience 15 We equip our academics and professional staff with the skills and understanding necessary to teach and support a broad and diverse international student body. LEARNING
LANGUAGE: CONNECTING STAFF AND STUDENTS TO LANGUAGE AND CULTURAL LEARNING We encourage our students, academics and professional staff to develop the language and cultural capabilities necessary to succeed in a global environment. 16 We offer relevant, flexible and innovative models of language and cultural learning and make them available to all students and staff. We provide first-class English language learning which prepares international students for studying in the UK and measurably improves their English competency during their studies. We embed credit-bearing foreign language learning to encourage a wider participation in and deeper understanding of languages. Key Performance Targets Improved National Student Survey (NSS) feedback scores from home and international students Key Performance Indicators Number of staff completing language and cultural learning modules Number of students completing language learning modules Number of international students taking in-sessional English language lessons 17 LANGUAGE
MOVEMENT: SHAPING OUR PROGRAMMES TO SUPPORT INTERNATIONAL MOBILITY FOR ALL We introduce flexibility within our programme structures, and add additional intake points, to boost credit bearing student mobility. 18 We offer the most extensive student mobility programme of any university in the UK by investing significantly in #DMUglobal and increasing the scale, diversity and quality of international opportunities available to students. We encourage students and staff to make a positive impact on global communities by volunteering their time and expertise to assist international development projects. Key Performance Targets Proportion of students undertaking credit bearing mobility experiences Key Performance Indicators Number and effectiveness of mobility partnerships 19 We provide professional and academic staff with developmental international experiences through a new Global Envoys professional development programme. MOVEMENT
TECHNOLOGY: ADOPTING THE LATEST TECHNOLOGIES TO FACILITATE A VIRTUAL CAMPUS We equip our staff and students with digital literacy skills vital in a global environment. We employ online learning technologies to support and enhance our global learning and partnerships. 20 We construct a technology infrastructure which enables effective collaboration across physical boundaries, reducing the environmental impact of international travel. We exploit web technologies to enhance our overseas marketing and communications. We use learning technologies to support the embedding of an international experience into our curricula. Key Performance Targets Income derived from international recruitment and partnerships Key Performance Indicators International student traffic and number of web enquiries through DMU website 21 TECHNOLOGY
GLOBAL NETWORK: 22 23 OUR VISION To create a global network which enriches the university, we will continue to foster international partnerships, facilitating new opportunities and exchanges. We will evolve global networks which allow us to diversify our activity in countries across the world. Together with high-profile global partners and alumni, we will showcase our university on the international stage, through prestigious events, communication and promotion. Supporting top quality global research, we will prepare the university to compete in world league tables.
PARTNERSHIPS: BUILDING GLOBAL PARTNERS AND CENTRES PROMOTING NEW OPPORTUNITIES We reach all corners of the globe, establishing a truly global network which enables us to quickly identify opportunities through local knowledge and insight. 24 We work with partners who are leaders in their sectors across all areas of teaching, research and knowledge transfer. We forge innovative models of transnational education (TNE) partnerships which raise our profile and provide progression pathways for students to study DMU programmes in the UK. Key Performance Targets Income derived from international partnerships Key Performance Indicators Number, value and country diversity of international partnerships 25 We continue to build on our existing strategic partnerships with international organisations from which we derive benefit and added value that further our strategic objectives. We allocate the time necessary for our staff to develop and nurture international partnerships and we reward and recognise staff achievements. PARTNERSHIPS
SHOWCASING: WORKING WITH HIGH-PROFILE PARTNERS AND ALUMNI TO PROMOTE DMU We showcase DMU overseas by hosting and partnering on high-profile international events, such as the UK Government s GREAT Festivals of Creativity. 26 We stay connected with our international friends and alumni, our global champions, and work in partnership with them to raise the international profile of DMU. We have a dynamic and innovative international marketing and communications strategy which provides a framework for promoting and publicising the university in a diverse range of international cultures and environments. We attract staff with an international reputation in their field. These staff are our champions for international activity. Key Performance Targets Income derived from international partnerships Key Performance Indicators Number of international friends and alumni supporting DMU activity and events International media coverage AVE (advertising value equivalent) from DMU events 27 SHOWCASING
RESEARCH: NURTURING TOP QUALITY INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH We encourage our researchers to build international networks and collaborate with overseas partners. We promote our research strengths to identify opportunities for international research collaboration. 28 We develop a strong international research base which will put us on a trajectory to improve research performance in recognised international university league tables. We attract and develop internationally recognised researchers and recruit high-quality research students to work under their supervision. Key Performance Targets Position of research performance in recognised international university league tables Number of international research students Key Performance Indicators Internationally co-authored papers/citations 29 RESEARCH
STUDENT FOCUS: 30 OUR VISION 31 To build on our diversity, we will attract and welcome top students from a greater number of countries across the world. We will provide them with an unrivalled journey: from our initial contact, through to their graduation and beyond. Students will enjoy the added benefits of taking part in pioneering programmes including #DMUglobal and #DMUlocal s award-winning Square Mile programme our ground-breaking public outreach programme which draws upon academic expertise to benefit the local community. We will engage our students in taking forward our global outlook on campus, as part of our DMU family.
RECRUITMENT: BECOMING THE BEST AT ATTRACTING TOP STUDENTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD We substantially increase the number of international students and the geographic and cultural spread of their countries of origin to create a diverse and creative learning environment for all our students. 32 We embed outstanding, personalised and responsive services. We implement the World Standard a package of ground-breaking promises and pledges to make DMU a leading destination for international students. We build a deep understanding about our international markets and analyse market data to identify trends and respond to demand. We review our academic portfolio to ensure it is relevant, distinctive and innovative. We work in close partnership with Leicester International Pathway College to promote, enhance and embed high-quality pathway provision. Key Performance Targets Proportion of income that is derived from international activities Key Performance Indicators Number of international students 33 We build strong and dynamic relationships with educational agents and partners which enable us to attract more of the best students from a diverse range of countries. We adopt flexible and sustainable approaches which minimise the risks associated with the changing geopolitical landscape. RECRUITMENT
ENGAGEMENT: ENCOURAGING STUDENTS TO TAKE FORWARD OUR GLOBAL OUTLOOK We value the contribution our diverse international students bring to teaching, living and learning at DMU. Our staff and students have the expert knowledge and skills required to help students adapt to life in the UK. 34 We empower our students to create platforms for intercultural learning and peer-to-peer support. We invest in the facilities and services required to support a global campus. We ingrain global competencies by facilitating diverse international events, programmes and activities on campus. We recognise and reward student participation through the Home Planet Prize. Key Performance Targets National Student Survey (NSS) feedback scores from home and international students Key Performance Indicators Number of international events, programmes and activities on-campus 35 ENGAGEMENT
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