It can be argued that the university has always been an international institution. Production of universal knowledge, international prestige and cooperation, and staff and student mobility, have been important characteristics of the university. Meanwhile, the modern university has been dependent on the nation-state, and connected to a nation's economic interest, for which science and technology play an important role.

The nation-state remains an important institutional environment for the university, although increasingly challenged by globalisation processes. These challenges that have spurred policy initiatives at both national and international levels will affect university structures more deeply than traditional internationalisation measures like staff and student exchange. And if the main thrust for internationalisation is prompted by the development of a global knowledge-based economy, how shall the old, national model of higher education deal with the present mode of economic and educational development?

Globalisation and internationalisation of higher education may take different directions. One is to promote competition between universities, another to promote international co-operation. A third is to enhance competitiveness through cooperation. The GATS agreement within the WTO may represent the first direction, while the Bologna Agreement in Europe may represent the last two directions.

The workshop

The workshop will focus on how globalisation and internationalisation affect universities in the East and the West and what strategies the university has developed to manage these global challenges. Among the issues that will be discussed are:

1. The consequences of increased competition and commercialisation of higher education for universities in the East and the West
2. Strategies of competition versus strategies of cooperation.
3. Possibilities of cooperation between universities.
4. Experiences of collaboration between universities in different international consortia, e.g., like LEWI/IIBD and Universitas 21.
5. How does international exchange affect integration of higher education in different regions (adaptation of educational structure, recognition of studies, credits, etc).
6. Language barriers: internationalisation in the form of student and teacher exchange, joint curriculum development, assessment and examination of international students and accreditation of studies abroad requiring the use of a common language, e.g., English; what strategy do non-English speaking universities adopt to deal with this issue?

The workshop aims to discuss these issues with university managements and students and to identify future trends of and obstacles to international exchange and cooperation.

The workshop programme consists of the following panels:
-- A keynote address
-- Representatives of different regions present tendencies and policies of higher education integration
-- A student experiences sharing session
-- A presentation on a survey on international exchange, cooperation and strategies
-- Group discussions on the future trends of and obstacles for international cooperation and exchange

David C. Lam Institute for East-West Studies (LEWI)

LEWI is an academic consortium hosted by Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU), a public-funded institution with a Christian heritage. With its mission to promote intercultural dialogue, the Institute has a global membership of 28 universities and has established research programmes on three continents: The Western Pacific Rim-China Research Programme at Swinburne University of Technology, Australia; the North America-China Research Programme at Simon Fraser University, Canada; and the Europe-China Research Programme at Hong Kong Baptist University. 

Wing Lung Bank International Institute for Business Development (IIBD)

IIBD, also hosted by HKBU, was established in 1993 and named in recognition of the steadfast support and generosity of Wing Lung Bank. Its objective is to facilitate growth and development of international business activities and to promote international business education in countries represented by member universities through the cooperation and joint ventures of its various members. The Institute seeks to provide knowledge and information appropriate to global business development, making full use of modern networking technologies. 

The conference will be held at the Lam Woo International Conference Centre of our University. Located on the Shaw campus on Renfrew Road, Kowloon Tong, the Centre houses attractive meeting rooms with the latest audio-visual aids. 

Please download and return the following form to the Conference Secretary by fax: (852) 3411-5128 or email: lewi@hkbu.edu.hk

  Workshop registration form (for non LEWI/IIBD members)

Higher Education East and West: Cooperation and Competition

5 October 2006

NAB 209 Lam Woo International Conference Center

Hong Kong Baptist University

Program

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5^th October 2006