NEW YORK, March 11, 2016—Strategic academic partnerships are critical for colleges and universities to remain competitive in the global arena, according to a new book from the Institute of International Education (IIE) and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). Available this month from IIE Books, Global Perspectives on Strategic International Partnerships: A Guide to Building Sustainable Academic Linkages is the first book to examine institutional partnerships through a global lens by providing a comprehensive look at why institutions are being more tactical about their linkages, and what strong partnerships are accomplishing.
The new book features chapters by more than 50 experts based in 12 countries who provide practical guidance and case studies on building and expanding global consortia, multi-lateral linkages, and public-private sector relationships. Chapters include:
- Results from a global survey on strategic international partnerships
- In-depth case studies of long-term, successful strategic partnerships
- Guidance for initiating, expanding, evaluating, and terminating relationships
- New models for addressing ethics, culture, and mutual benefit
- Recommendations for partnership paradigms in international development work
Academic partnerships have emerged as a multifaceted solution that meets the global demands placed on higher education. Today, higher education institutions are being asked to fulfill more roles than ever before. Students and faculty demand diverse opportunities to work in and with other cultures; companies look to universities to produce top global talent and perform cutting edge research; governments acknowledge the critical place of higher education in building capacity and supporting economic development; and consumers on all fronts expect all of this and more at a low cost. Partnerships provide diverse opportunities for faculty and students in all fields. They connect the best minds to conduct research to find solutions to pressing global issues, and create cost-saving efficiencies.
A recent survey by IIE and the Freie Universitat Berlin demonstrates that academic partnerships and linkages raise the global profiles of institutions, boost institutions’ research and teaching reputations, and expand funding opportunities from external sources.
“Academic partnerships are no longer a nice-to-have, but must be an integral part of any university’s strategic plan. These relationships acknowledge the fact that when we collaborate across borders we not only improve our individual institutions but create entirely new outcomes that benefit the world as a whole,” says Allan Goodman, IIE’s President and CEO.
The chapters in this publication range from practical case studies to provocative manifestos, the sum of which provides practitioners with a comprehensive guide for building strategic partnerships from a broad range of perspectives. Alvaro Romo, Secretary of the International Association of University Presidents (IAUP), explains why strategic partnerships are important to university CEOs, while Susan Buck Sutton, Senior Adviser for International Initiatives at Bryn Mawr College and newly-appointed IIE Fellow for Academic Partnerships, outlines a new, multi-dimensional model for thinking about mutual benefit. In-depth case studies from the Technische Universität Darmstadt, Winston Salem State University, The University of Queensland, and others provide detailed accounts of successful partnerships which, in some cases, have endured for over twenty years.
“Strategic partnerships are a major tool in the development of an international profile for any institution of higher education. In our new publication, we have selected a multitude of perspectives from experts around the world to discuss new trends, models, and best practices delving into topics such as funding, administration, strategy building, engaging faculty, and evaluating strategic partnerships. By showcasing diverse institutional, cultural, and geographic perspectives, we want to share our expertise and give inspiration to others who can learn from our experience” says Dorothea Rueland, Secretary General for DAAD.
This publication moves the global discussion around academic partnerships to new levels, provoking new debates around so-called Global North-South partnerships. It takes a critical look at whether global networks are useful, and delves into the nuts and bolts of how institutions actually manage their partnerships. For example, the survey chapter reveals that while 80% of respondents had developed partnerships at their institution, only 40% of those individuals had any evaluation method for those partnerships. Realizing this problem, The University of Queensland developed a comprehensive tool for tracking and evaluating their partnerships around the world. They have been able to measure outputs, set realistic objectives, make data-informed decisions, and ultimately generate greater value from the relationship for their university and their partners.
“There has been much talk in recent years about the need for universities to become much more strategic and professional in the way they initiate and manage international partnerships, which in the past were too often ad hoc and amateurish. This book provides us with an excellent collection of studies from a diverse range of locations and institutional types. It will be an essential guide for leaders in higher education seeking to build international linkages”, says Chris Ziguras, President of the International Education Association of Australia.
Global Perspectives on Strategic International Partnerships: A Guide to Building Sustainable Linkages is edited by Clare Banks, Institute of International Education (IIE), and Birgit Siebe-Herbig and Karin Norton, German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). The “Global Perspectives” series is a joint effort by IIE and DAAD to explore current international education policy issues from a global lens. The book is for sale at the IIE Bookstore.
About the Book
TITLE: Global Perspectives on Strategic International Partnerships: A Guide to Building Sustainable Linkages
PRICE: $44.95
PUBLISHER: Institute of International Education
PUB. DATE: March 11, 2016
About the Institute of International Education (IIE) and German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)
DAAD and IIE have a long and fruitful shared history dating back to the 1920s, when Carl Joachim Friedrich, a political science student at the University of Heidelberg in Germany, came to study in the United States. He persuaded IIE to create fellowships for 13 other German social sciences students. In 1925, this vision was greatly expanded with the founding of the Akademische Austauschdienst (AAD), which has since expanded to become DAAD. Today, DAAD and IIE are world leaders in global education, providing international exchange opportunities for nearly 100,000 students, scholars and professionals each year. Both organizations are at the forefront of supporting and promoting the development of closer institutional ties between colleges and universities on all continents.
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