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Will the Internationalization of Research Lead to the Extinction of International Relations Offices%3F

Characterized by the growth, the acceleration and the intensification of economic, political, social and cultural interactions, globalization inevitably impacted the world of higher education. In response to an increasingly complex context, universities have had to sharpen their expertise and, in the last 20 years, offer the internationalization of higher education in a wide range of colors. Originally created to manage North-South development projects, the activities of International Relations Offices have gradually moved towards the expansion of student mobility. Only recently have universities started to rely more and more on International Relations Offices’ teams to internationalize research. Dealing with this change brings multiple challenges. Among them: operationalize the collaboration with the institution's research office; gain expertise and detailed knowledge of international aspirations and goals of research groups; and build new networks among international donors. Will the International Relations Offices, as we know them, be able to survive in this new ecosystem%3F Through considerations on the experience of UQAM International Relations Office while facing the new role it’s being asked to play, this presentation aims to foster an exchange on participants’ experiences and good practices.

Author(s):

Sylvain St-Amand    
Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM)
Canada

Catherine Rodriguez    
Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM)
Canada