Being internationally driven is essential for the future success of the University of Bristol. We are already a well-internationalised organisation. This paper gives the intellectual and policy background to our future internationalisation activity as well as identifying some key areas for action.
It could be argued that being international is such an intrinsic part of the University of Bristol’s operation and ambition that there is no need for us to have an “international” strategy, any more than there is a need for a “national” strategy. International aims and activities feature throughout the University’s new Vision & Strategy. Furthermore, events are changing at such a pace in the global realm, especially with international students, that such a strategy would become historical almost on publication. It would be much more rational for us to ensure that international (or global) thinking imbued every aspect of our strategic and tactical thinking and leave individual members of staff or departments to decide how best to prosecute international research, student recruitment and collaborations, with relatively light-touch central support.
Some colleagues find the absence of an international strategy difficult. They have said that, at the very least, they would like a document that set out the University’s view of the purpose and ambitions of the University’s global interactions, both inside and outside higher education. At one level, they would like to know what the philosophical rules of engagement are so that they know how to structure international partnerships and collaborations. It is also clear that our external partners are confused that we have not articulated the aims of our international operations. This document represents the conclusions of a discussion paper written initially by the Vice-Chancellor and shaped through substantial consultation with senior colleagues. It is not a strategy document but it does articulate our view of the important drivers for Bristol with regard to internationalisation and globalisation, and the actions being taken in response to these drivers through our existing strategies.