New APLU Report Calls for Renewed Commitment to Achieve Comprehensive Internationalization of Public Research Universities

Washington, DC – The Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) today released a report surveying the state of campus internationalization efforts at its member institutions. Based on those survey results, the report issues recommendations on what steps APLU institutions must take to advance internationalization as they strive to maintain and enhance their place as the world’s leading universities.

“Campus internationalization is more important to institutional excellence than ever before,” said APLU President Peter McPherson. “Today’s report underscores the need for public universities to continually evaluate their past internationalization efforts, adjust their strategies and goals, and renew their commitment. Achieving campus internationalization must be a priority for universities today. That requires campus leadership to be deeply committed to campus internationalization.”

The report, Pervasive Internationalization: A Call for Renewed Leadership, surveys the landscape of internationalization efforts and discusses how internationalization goals and strategies are impacted by our changing global context. The report emphasizes the urgent need to re-examine public research universities’ responsibility in meeting the demands that globalization places upon our societies and urges university leadership to focus on inclusiveness through their internationalization strategies, expanding access to global education opportunities for all students.

Embracing the notion that a global education is essential for today’s graduates, the report issues a series of recommendations for senior public university leaders:

• University leaders need to articulate a vision and build institutional support across all stakeholders to achieve pervasive internationalization that is aligned with the core institutional mission and values.
• Chief academic officers should facilitate the engagement of an inclusive network of stakeholders to drive internationalization across all aspects of the institution.
• Senior international officers should remain attuned to balancing the unique needs and challenges of colleges and offices as they aim to integrate internationalization on an institution-wide basis.

The report was developed by APLU’s Commission on International Initiatives under the chairmanship of Colorado State University President Tony Frank. The study builds on two APLU internationalization reports published over a decade ago and gauges progress made toward internationalization goals since those reports were issued.