SIU strategy 2005-2010

Introduction
SIU was established, together with the National Agency for Quality Assurance in Education (NOKUT), as part of the reorganisation of higher education in Norway, the so-called Quality Reform. The Quality Reform highlights internationalisation as an important element of quality development in higher education.

The development of the SIU strategy document started up after the Board adopted the project plan in September 2004. The following strategy document draws up perspectives proposed for the next five years, but may be revised annually. The strategy is an overarching steering document that gives direction and substance to SIU’s commission as outlined in its Articles of Association passed by the Ministry of Education and Research (KD) March 3, 2004.

The strategy synthesises the governing goals for the entire portfolio of programmes and other activities within the area of SIU’s responsibility, and will be made operational through annual allocations from the Ministry and other contractual partners and through annual activity plans. The activity plans define the annual priorities within the five areas of responsibility articulated in SIU’s Articles of Association.

SIU’s activities shall contribute to quality enhancement in Norwegian higher education and research through internationalisation, cultural communication and international cooperation, including increased mobility. SIU may also take responsibility for research programmes when integrated in education- and institution building activities. The Articles emphasise that SIU’s tasks may also cover other levels of education, thus encompassing lifelong learning.

SIU’s strategy is to be implemented in collaboration with SIU’s owner, other Norwegian authorities, SIU’s contractual partners and the education sector, the tertiary sector in particular. SIU’s mandate makes it clear that SIU shall be a agency that collaborates with and provides service to higher education. Collaboration with the education sector in general, the Norwegian Council for Higher Education (UHR) and the student organisations in particular is thus of prime importance.

The SIU staff, the Ministry of Education and Research, the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation and the Norwegian Council for Higher Education have all participated in the strategy process. SIU’s management and Board want to express their gratitude for the valuable ideas and suggestions they have received.

SIU’s responsibilities
The Norwegian Centre for International Cooperation in Higher Education (SIU) is Norway’s centre of expertise and information in the field of internationalisation of education.SIU was established in 1991 as a small office under the auspices of the Norwegian Council of Universities to manage two international programmes. In January 2004 SIU was transformed into a government agency, a centre of expertise with a set of responsibilities for the internationalisation of education.

SIU has a long tradition in managing international programmes. Today its portfolio includes the EU lifelong learning programme (former Socrates programme) and programmes and bilateral agreements on behalf of Norwegian ministries, Norad (Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation), various embassies and the Nordic Council of Ministers. SIU’s challenge is to maintain and develop this expertise while at the same time serving as a centre for efforts aimed at internationalisation of education as defined in SIU’s new assignment.

According to the Articles of Association for the Norwegian Centre for International Cooperation in Higher Education, as laid down by the Ministry of Education and Research (KD) March 3, 2004, SIU has five areas of responsibility:

• Programme management
  • SIU shall be the national agency for international programmes and activities in higher education and may also organise international activities covering other levels of education.
• Promoting Norway as a venue for study and research
  • The centre shall produce information about Norwegian education, assist the sector in strengthening its profiling and marketing, and collaborate with the various institutions in establishing contacts abroad.
  • The centre shall be present at relevant international fora, maintain contact with related organisations and collaborate with other national agencies with functions similar to SIU.
• Information and communication
  • The centre shall contribute to the overarching information initiatives established by the education authorities.
  • The centre shall have a particular responsibility for information activities concerning internationalisation in higher education and mobility.
• Competence building to promote international cooperation in higher education
  • The centre shall assist Norwegian higher education institutions in their internationalisation activities.
  • SIU shall also offer assistance in international strategy development, advice on international contracting and mediation of international contacts.
• Advising, studies and service functions
  • SIU shall be a centre of expertise in the internationalisation of higher education; it shall take part in studies and initiatives vis-a-vis the Ministry of Education and Research and other contractors and implement initiatives on behalf of the Ministry.

Basic terminology
Definitions of the terms internationalisation and globalisation vary. In this document SIU has chosen the following definitions:

• Internationalisation is the exchange of ideas, knowledge, goods and services between nations across national borders. The perspective is consequently that of the individual nation. In higher education, we take internationalisation to mean “…the process of integrating an international, intercultural and global dimension in the objectives, organisation and actions of the institutions” (Jane Knight, 2003).
• Globalisation refers to worldwide phenomena and exchanges of all kinds that transcend – or ignore – national borders. Globalisation is a process where geographical distances and obstacles mean less and less when economic, political and socio-cultural collaboration and cooperation are established across national borders.

International cooperation refers to the various activities involved in exchange, development, collaboration, both bilaterally and within research networks, knowledge development and education, as well as participation in international fora.

The global space
Globalisation creates new possibilities as well as new international challenges that require increased cooperation across national borders.

Universities were, historically speaking, early actors in global cooperation. In recent times, however, these efforts were often tied to the modernisation of the nation state. Globalisation has presented new possibilities in knowledge production, dissemination of knowledge and reduction of the knowledge gap between rich and poor.

A growing and more heterogeneous student population faces increased diversity in both culture and knowledge that requires a global identity, in addition to the national. Today we are witnessing a shift to learning oriented education that prepares the student for a changing labour market that values the ability to adapt and readjust. The internationalisation of higher education will influence, change and enrich education at the student’s home institution (internation­alisation at home) as well as the international mobility of Norwegian students and staff.

Internationalisation
SIU shall contribute to the internationalisation of Norwegian higher education through its role as initiator, mediator and centre of expertise for the education sector in Norway. SIU’s role is delineated by Norwegian education and foreign policies:

• New knowledge, technology and a competent workforce are vital requirements in the effort to create added value and secure future welfare in Norway. Internationalisation in a key instrument in the work to increase the quality of higher education in Norway.
• Internationalisation as part of the Quality Reform is an increasingly important element in Norwegian education, for the universities and colleges in particular. The Bologna and Lisbon initiatives are important processes in the European education cooperation. Goals like harmonisation, coordination and mobility are central in these processes, as is lifelong learning, both in the European Union and in Norwegian policy.
• Norway is actively committed to United Nations’ Millennium Goals as witnessed by the Norwegian action plan for poverty alleviation in the South toward 2015 (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 2002). Education has been singled out in both bilateral and multilateral forums, with the express aim of making it a priority area. Education is Job no.1 in Norway’s contribution to the struggle against poverty. The Norwegian policies also include a commitment to the struggle against HIV/AIDS, development of the business sector, sustainable development, good governance, peacekeeping and development.
• Norway is a member of several international organisations that have education and research on their agendas, e.g. UNESCO, OECD, the World Bank and WTO (through the GATS negotiations). With Norwegian support, UNESCO (1998) has formulated a goal of broader access to education and assuring that education acts as an important instrument in development. Higher education should be a common good and human right. Systemic and educational reforms should contribute to promote quality, relevance and efficient use of resources through a closer connection to society in general, and industry in particular. The understanding of education as a tradable good and the commercialisation of education have gained dominance in the education sector internationally.

Programme management

Objective
SIU shall be the preferred partner in international programme management in higher education and for programmes for programmes that cater education as a whole.SIU shall manage, develop and assure the quality of its education and research programmes and the other initiatives in internationalisation, institution building and international cooperation that fall within its area of responsibility.

SIU’s programme management is to be conducted in close cooperation with the educational institutions.It shall give added value to the education sector and SIU’s partners and provide synergy between the various programmes and SIU’s other activities.

SIU shall seek to facilitate the institutions’ use of the programmes as instruments to reach international strategic goals.

Intermediate goals

• SIU shall seek to involve the whole educational sector in international programmes.
• SIU shall assist the universities and colleges in their efforts to reach their own goals of international student mobility, and, within the area of institutional cooperation, to have more students enjoy well organised residences at foreign institutions, socially as well as academically.
• SIU shall propose and seek to establish viable cooperation programmes with countries outside Europe.
• SIU shall see to it that institution building and competence development feature strongly in its portfolio of programmes, and that cooperation activities are institutionalised in the South to secure sustainable education and research environments.
• SIU shall have a dynamic and flexible programme management, a professional organisation that efficiently manages and develops programmes and partnerships in education and research.

Measures and means
SIU shall

• Offer accessible and up-to-date information about international agreements, guidelines, decisions, and publications to SIU’s owner, the Ministry, partners, the education sector and other users, and ensure the documentation and dissemination of results.
• Have good, clear and transparent administrative, application and decision procedures in all programme management.
• Have routines that safeguard its obligations towards owner and other partners.
• Regularly assess and evaluate its programme management.
• Develop and manage new technical solutions to its programme management to meet the needs of partners and users.
• Propose improvements, new programmes and actions.
• Ensure that the programme management creates results and learning according to the objectives formulated in the international programmes in SIU’s portfolio.
• In cooperation with the education sector employ the best expertise on the programme boards.

Promoting Norway abroad as a venue for study and research

Objective
In cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Research, other public authorities and the education- and research sector, SIU shall promote Norway abroad to make it visible and attractive to students, academics and institutions.

In its promotion of Norway as a education and research nation, SIU shall coordinate and employ current resources to better advantage in order to give higher education a favourable international standing.

In the promoting of Norway, SIU shall attempt to promote a coherent message about Norway as an education and research nation. The message shall complement the promotion of the individual institutions in higher education.

Intermediate goals

• In cooperation with the higher education sector, SIU shall increase the general knowledge of Norway as an education and research nation.It shall pay special attention to the countries given priority by the Norwegian government.SIU shall assist the Norwegian institutions of higher education in promoting their own institutions internationally.
• SIU shall contribute to the development of a coherent promotion of the Norwegian education sector internationally. The promotion of Norwegian education shall agree with official goals and policies for Norwegian foreign affairs.
• The promotion of Norwegian higher education abroad shall contribute to increase Norway’s ability to compete for good international students and researchers to sojourn at Norwegian institutions, and to increase their numbers.

Measures and means
SIU shall

• In cooperation with the educational institutions define how Norway wishes to profile itself as an education and research nation.
• In cooperation with the institutions assess and evaluate initiatives in the profiling and promotion of Norwegian education abroad and represent Norway at international education expositions maintain a close relationship to the national universities and colleges, and through a reference group attend to their needs in international profiling.
• Develop multi-lingual web sites.
• Help universities and colleges strengthen ties to the best knowledge nations in the world and have good contacts with key agents.
• Develop the cooperation with strategic partners in the field of international profiling.

Information and communication

Objective
SIU shall disseminate coordinated, relevant and useful information motivating and stimulating the education and research sector to increased interest in internationalisation.

SIU shall through relevant information help the education sector meet the requirements for internationalisation in national and international policy documents that Norway has adopted.

SIU shall be a resource centre providing information on and knowledge about internationalisation, the opportunities in international programmes, partnerships and mobility.

Intermediate goals

• SIU’s information about the Nordic and the European educational areas shall contribute to Norwegian institutions strengthening their international positions.
• SIU’s information activity shall contribute to Norway’s objectives in poverty eradication through high quality education and research initiatives in which institutions and competence building plays an important part.
• SIU shall keep the Norwegian institution up-to-date on international cooperation opportunities.
• SIU shall disseminate information, past experience, news and knowledge about international education and research affairs and about the internationalisation initiatives of the Norwegian authorities.
• SIU shall disseminate information on the outcomes of its international programmes and other activities to its owner, partners, the education sector, other users and to the general public.

Measures and means
SIU shall

• Make use of printed and electronic information targeted at the relevant recipients.
• Present itself as one organisation through a distinct and easily identifiable design and profile.
• Produce high quality journalistic and professional publications that disseminate programme results and professional and academic debates within the area of SIU’s responsibility.
• Develop transparent routines for quality control and evaluation of all information materials.
• Practice open government and transparency in all its management.
• Maintain and institutionalise strategic international contacts.
• Cooperate with other agencies with a responsibility for public information in the area of higher education.

Competence building to promote international cooperation in higher education

Objective
SIU shall be a national centre contributing to the development of competence in the internationalisation of education and research and assisting the institutions in reaching their strategic goals.

SIU shall contribute to and demonstrate that internationalisation leads to increased knowledge development and quality enhancement in Norwegian education and research. SIU shall initiate activities that promote international cooperation.

Intermediate goals

• SIU shall be a centre of discourse with relevance to internationalisation and professional cooperation in education.
• SIU shall make use of existing arenas and create new ones for cooperation between the public management and the institutions in the education sector.
• SIU shall assist and provide the owner, education sector and other partners with knowledge about forms of cooperation, cooperation agreements and examples of good practice.
• SIU shall engage the competence in the university and college sector and other partner institutions in order to use the combined knowledge to the best advantage for the sector.

Measures and means
SIU shall

• Provide information and give advice on internationalisation and international activities, including forms of cooperation and professional cooperation in the education sector.
• Identify and provide information about prospective cooperation institutions and the current challenges in development cooperation.
• Offer high quality courses and seminars for academic and administrative personnel throughout the education sector and contribute to network building and exchange of experience.
• Maintain accessible electronic information for academics and managers and for in- and out-going pupils and students.
• Keep abreast of the general conditions, priorities and initiatives in the education sector.

Advising, studies and service functions

Objective
SIU shall be the national centre of expertise and an important resource partner in the internationalisation of higher education.One of SIU’s key tasks will be to advise the authorities.In this role SIU shall be proactive, innovative and responsive.

SIU shall possess a high degree of formal expertise and disseminate knowledge on internationalisation.SIU shall always be well-informed on the research and development agenda in the internationalisation of higher education.

Intermediate goals

• SIU shall serve the owners and partners in a professional way and act strategically with initiative and clear advice.
• SIU shall promote knowledge on official Norwegian policies and significant trends and discourses in internationalisation in the education sector.
• SIU shall contribute knowledge, presentations and active participation in the various arenas in the sector where the impact of globalisation on research and education is discussed.
• SIU shall be innovative and participate in the development of policies in its field of responsibility.

Measures and means
SIU shall

• Initiate development of new programmes and actions and compete for commissions for reports, evaluations and new programmes.
• Participate and be visible in knowledge networks and in policy arenas that are central to SIU’s activities.
• Develop and maintain contact with central agents in education and research and exploit the competence in the institutions as a resource to complement, strengthen and challenge SIU’s own expertise.
• Contribute to the removal of national structural obstacles to the internationalisation of education.
• Ensure that the organisation at all times is up to date on relevant policies in foreign and educational affairs.
• Ensure that the organisation has the capacity and the flexibility to be innovative and proactive.

Management goals
SIU is a knowledge agency, and its most important resource is its workforce. SIU values such qualities as professionalism, team work, loyalty and openness.SIU will cultivate professional commitment, personal development and good communications in a management culture where everyone takes responsibility for a good and stimulating working environment. To reach these goals, the organisation must work in a way that develops the workforce and exploits the competence and the resources of the organisation.

Objective

• SIU shall have a personnel policy that ensures real participation, codetermination and personal professional development.
• SIU shall be an attractive and dynamic work-place that values job satisfaction, mutual respect and collaboration on the part of both the leaders and employees.
• All of SIU’s staff must be conscious of their responsibility for SIU’s development and the management must organise and motivate the workers for optimal achievement.
• SIU’s personnel shall together possess a leading competence in the internationalisation of higher education so that we are perceived as attractive partners in all areas comprised by our mandate.
• SIU’s internal communication shall be organised so that all staff at all times are informed about SIU’s activities and circumstances that touch on the responsibility of each.

Measures and means
SIU shall

• Provide for personal development and systematic competence development by arranging meeting places and possibilities for continuous learning.
• Strive to create a culture where knowledge and experience are shared.This responsibility rests with managers as well as employees.
• Have leaders who impart decisions and arguments in a clear way, who take the responsibility for defining goals and set success criteria and who supervise and assure the quality of projects.
• Establish a professional and trusting collaboration between the management and the associations of the employees.
• Establish routines to ensure the institutionalisation of competence and contacts.

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