No.13 Impact of Faculty Study Abroad Experiences on Subsequent Academic Activities and the Internationalization of the University —Findings of the Empirical Research Project on Leading Universities in Southeast Asia—

  • #Policy Notes
  • The JICA Ogata Sadako Research Institute for Peace and Development conducted an empirical study to determine the impacts of faculty members’ study abroad experiences on their subsequent academic activities, as well as on the overall development of the universities. The study was conducted in collaboration with ten leading universities in Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Cambodia. This policy note summarizes the policy implications of the study results.
  • Recommendation 1: The study abroad experience of university faculty members has positive impacts on the overall educational and research activities of universities in developing countries. In particular, the international networks, language skills and international experiences gained by faculty members through study abroad contribute significantly to improving the quality of leading universities in developing countries by promoting the internationalization of universities. It is necessary to fully take into account the role of faculty study abroad experience in the internationalization of higher education.
  • Recommendation 2: While faculty study abroad plays a vital role in internationalizing universities, it is also important to encourage domestic study to develop local graduate education. A balance between study abroad and domestic study should be fully considered in policies related to the attainment of advanced degrees by faculty members. Domestic graduate programs should also include opportunities for international academic experience.
  • Recommendation 3: The study abroad destinations of university faculty members from developing countries tend to be concentrated around a few countries. However, diversifying the range of destinations not only contributes to the internationalization of universities by building a rich international network but also provides universities with more diverse study abroad experiences and makes the most of the strengths and weaknesses of different destination countries. Since many of the scholarships for university faculty to study abroad for advanced degrees are publicly funded, governments of developing and developed countries, as well as international organizations that provide scholarships, should give due consideration to diversifying study abroad destinations.
  • International cooperation and competition are now essential for academic development, even in developing countries. For the development of higher education in developing countries, it is important to provide university faculty members with diverse and rich opportunities to study abroad and to create an environment in which their study abroad experiences can be used effectively while maintaining a balance with the development of domestic graduate programs.

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Author
KAYASHIMA Nobuko
Date of issuance
August 2024
Number of pages
13
Related areas
  • #Asia
Topics
  • #Education
  • #Japan's Development Cooperation
Research area
Human Development
Research project

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