Interventions To Promote Internationalisation Of A National E-journal Of Universities Of Applied Sciences

Author(s):

Lotta Linko(presenting / submitting)Mauri Kantola Mervi Friman

Conference:

ECER 2015

Network:

06. Open Learning: Media, Environments and Cultures

Format:

Paper

Session Information

06 SES 10 A, Supporting the Sharing of Knowledge and Educational Resources

Paper Session

Time:

2015-09-10

15:30-17:00

Room:

104.Oktatóterem [C]

Chair:

Petra Grell

Contribution

During the last years, Finland´s Ministry of Education and Culture has given several directives to guide internationalisation of higher education. Finnish higher education institutions have internationalisation strategies, they take part in international projects, intake international degree students, expand exchange programs, and take other actions to enlive their international activity and promote profile. The UAS Journal e-publication has taken part in this striving to promote internationality: the editors and the editorial board of the UAS journal have supported the internationalisation process by various, planned actions which have been followed and analysed by the writers of this abstract - also active stakeholders in those internationalisation activities.

Method

The intent of this study is to find out if our interventions have supported the development aims of the journal; the distinct research method employed is action research supported by qualitative and quantitative content analyses. In terms of action research, our purpose is to study if the internationalisation interventions carried out by the actors of the UAS e-journal have succeeded.

Expected Outcomes

The interventions to promote internationalisation include: choosing of publication name and domain name, article language, article topics, article summaries in English, nationality of writers, international issue, and promotion in international conferences. The interventions have in their part contributed to the internationalisation of the e-journal but its effect on the internationalisation of Finnish universities of applied sciences cannot be proven. The role of the e-journal as a tool in these aspirations is not yet widely recognised so in the first place the publication should gain more visibility within UASes in communicating their R&D work. The publication was started in 2011 so the history is not a long one, and one challenge is the role of the publication itself: it is jointly funded and produced with actors from all UASes but all their goals are not be shared as their national and international positions and aspirations vary. Continuing and strengthening the interventions, at the same time analysing the outcomes of the actions, is in our mind the way to continue. Keeping the topic on the agenda is one way of making sure interventions to promote internationality are constantly carried out: this is a trend we can clearly see in the results of our actions.

References

Ammattikorkeakoulujen rehtorineuvosto (2015). Kansainväliset verkostot. Couglan, P. ja Coghlan, D. (2002). Action research for operations management. International Journal of Operations & Production Management. Vol.22 No.2, 2002. Emerald. Friman, M. ja Kantola, M. (2012). The Kever e-journal in Finnish practical oriented higher education 2002-2009. Egitania Sciencia. X, Maio de 2012 Vol. 6. Guarda. Kansallinen koulutuksen arviointikeskus KARVI (2015). An evaluation of international degree programmes in Finland. http://karvi.fi/publication/evaluation-international-degree-programmes-finland/. Referenced 27.1.2015. Kantola, M. ja Linko, L. (2014) Ammattikorkeakoulujen yhteiseen verkkolehteen kohdistuva toimintatutkimus. Ammattikasvatuksen aikakauskirja 3/2014. ISSN 1456-7989. Tampere. Kantola, M. ja Kettunen, J. (2012). Integration of education with research and development and the export of higher education. On the Horizon 1/2012. Emerald Group Publishing Limited. Opetus- ja Kulttuuriministeriö, OKM (2012). Koulutus ja tutkimus vuosina 2011 - 2016. Kehittämissuunnitelma. Opetus- ja kulttuuriministeriön julkaisuja 2012:1. Helsinki. Räikkönen, M. (2010). Pinnet-verkosto edistää ammattikorkeakoulujen kansainvälistymistä. Kever-Osaaja No. 3, 2010. http://www.uasjournal.fi/index.php/K-O/article/view/1251/1160 Viitattu 25.1.2015.

Author Information

Lotta Linko (presenting / submitting)

Häme University of Applied Sciences

Communications

Hämeenlinna

Mauri Kantola

Turku University of Applied Sciences

Development

Turku

Mervi Friman

HAMK University of Applied Sciences

Rector´s Office