Study in Italy - Universita Cattolica del Sacro Cuore

CHEI - official launch at Università Cattolica

By Maria Strumendo 

"One shoe size does not fit all" – Prof. John Hudzik

Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (UCSC) was proud to host the official launch and grand opening of the Centre for Higher Education Internationalisation (CHEI), at its first seminar held in Milan last month.

The Governance of CHEI

Experts in the field, academics, and students crowded Cripta Aula Magna at the Milan campus, for a stimulating day of teaching & learning, discussion, and exchanging of ideas.

The one-day seminar titled: 'An Introduction to Higher Education Internationalisation' was presented by the CHEI Management Board and Scientific Committee, offering their expertise knowledge and extensive insight into a globally growing field.

Prof. Pier Sandro Cocconcelli, CHEI President and UCSC Rector's Delegate for Internationalisation, introduced the seminar and posed the question: "Internationalisation. Why do we want to become international?"

The 'Why?' factor?

Prof. Hans de Wit – CHEI Director, UCSC Visiting Professor, and Professor of Internationalisation of Higher Education, Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, the Netherlands – initiated the first presentation of the day: "Internationalisation of Higher Education: the why, what and how."

In light of Prof. Pier Sandro Cocconcelli's question, Prof. Hans de Wit presented the many rationales of Internationalisation, which he defines as the 'Why?.' These include: political, economic, social and cultural, academic, and emerging rationales.

Prof. Hans de Wit stressed the importance of understanding the misconceptions of Internationalisation, which are often why institutions presume they are 'international.'

"The international dimension is not automatically there, you have to introduce it into the university," said Prof. Hans de Wit.

Through other presentations and discussions with guests, the Governance of CHEI sought to answer the 'Why?' through highlighting key topics and themes of internationalisation.

Highlights: topics & themes

■ Meaning and rationales: motivations and objectives of Internationalisation
■ Misconceptions about internationalisation
■ Globalization
■ Comparative perspectives between USA, Asia, North & South America, Europe, and Italy         
■ Faculty engagement
■ The student voice
■ The objectives and points of view of various joint/double degrees between Europe and USA
■ Different institutional paths and models
■ Internationalisation at UCSC

Models of Internationalisation

Prof. John K. Hudzik

In his presentation, Prof. John K. Hudzik, Michigan State University and President of the UCSC CHEI Scientific Committee, addressed the concept that institutions are idiosyncratic.

"There is no 'best' model and no 'checklist' to follow said Prof. John K. Hudzik.

There are differing institutional paths for Internationalisation and hence institution approaches are individual and are shaped by differences in: Missions, values, and priorities; Starting points; What is possible; Models of operation.

"There are as many strategies as there are institutions in the world," said Francisco Marmolejo, Member of the CHEI Scientific Committee, and Executive Director of the Consortium for North American Higher Education Collaboration (CONAHEC), Mexico /United States of America.

Internationalisation at UCSC and the role of CHEI

The final part of the seminar focused on Internationalisation at UCSC. The overview was presented by Prof. Pier Sandro Cocconcelli and Edilio Mazzoleni, Member of the CHEI Management Board, and Director, UCSC International.

Prof. Pier Sandro Cocconcelli shaking hands    with Prof. Hans de Wit.

CHEI was created to "promote and conduct research, training, and policy analysis to strengthen the international dimensions of higher education."

Strategic plan for UCSC "If you want to go somewhere, you firstly have to understand where you are," said Dr. Fiona Hunter, Università Carlo Cattaneo - LIUC

"I know that CHEI can play as a key development for driving the fundamental needs of internationalisation," said Prof. John Hudzik.

"Internationalisation is a wide concept and there are so many views and perceptions. Through CHEI we want to understand what internationalisation means for Cattolica," said Prof. Hans de Wit.

"We have to educate and provide a body of knowledge for our students and I'm sure that CHEI can provide the adequate tools for the university," said Prof. Pier Sandro Cocconcelli.

CHEI at NAFSA 2012

You can visit CHEI at Università Cattolica's booth #1719.