Is Higher Education Internationalizing In Turkey? (original) (raw)
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Is Higher Education Internationalizing In Turkey? 6
European countries has undergone many reforms and strategies based on Bologna Process objectives to become key players in this global knowledge network. This internationalization phenomenon has affected various aspects of Turkish higher education system and Turkey set an agenda to benefit from this international environment and attract foreign students. The main aim of the study is to discuss internationalization in higher education and review of the present status of student mobility in higher education in Turkey after the launch of Bologna Process. The study will provide a picture of internationalizing and mobility in higher education in Turkey to address strategic questions related to the future of higher education in Turkey, and to discuss in detail with the aim of shedding light on new planning. The research was structured as a descriptive study and used secondary data received from Council of Higher Education (CoHE) published on the web site as well as international documents and reports. According to the findings of the study, it is impossible at that moment to report accurately that much progress has been made on internationalizing in higher education in Turkey.
This report examines student mobility from various countries and regions to Turkey with regard to the trends, rationales, policies implemented by Turkey’s higher education institutions (HEIs) and the outcomes of the scheme. The report addresses the representatives of Turkey’s higher education (HE) and stakeholders in HEIs to propose measures to increase Turkey’s attractiveness as a destination country. It may also benefit governments, education institutions, students and families in source countries from which international students hail to receive education in Turkey. The report is based on the review of the literature and research on globalisation, internationalisation of higher education (IoHE) and student mobility vis-à-vis the implications of these processes for Turkey. Besides these sources, the policy recommendations presented in the final section of the report are formulated from the author’s three-month long ethnographic research which has included observations at various HEIs, field notes across social and academic spaces where international student are engaged, interviews conducted with international as well as local students, institutional stakeholders, state officials and the representatives of non-governmental organizations, and the analysis of relevant documents. The Introduction part introduces the definition of the key terminology employed in the report. It also captures the link between globalization, internationalization of higher education (IoHE) and inward student mobility. The second part titled Globalisation and Reconfiguration in Turkey’s Higher Education Policies tackles with the impact of globalization that has led Turkey to implement major changes in higher education policies and practices, which has eventually paved way to an increasing internationalization trend and student mobility. Next section, Internationalisation of Turkey’s Higher Education and Rationales for Inward Student Mobility, explains Turkey’s expectations from incoming students and the political, economic and cultural diplomacy advantages it brings. It also introduces key institutions involved and their function and role in student recruitment strategies. The fourth part focusing on Trends: Student Mobility from Strategic Regions introduces which countries and regions Turkey attracts highest number of students and why. It also explains on Turkey’s focus on strategic regions such as Africa, Balkans and Middle East with their specific dynamics and meanings. Finally, Looking into Future and Areas for Improvement presents a number of suggestions for policymakers and higher education institutions.
Exploring Internationalization in Turkish Higher Education: Insights from Intern
International Journal of Eurasian Education and Culture, 2023
Globalization has led to a growing interest in pursuing higher education abroad, with increasing numbers of students seeking university education outside their home countries. This trend has prompted countries to adopt an international dimension in education, including Turkish higher education, which is focusing on new practices to attract more international students in the face of global competition. The mobility of students who pursue university education outside their home countries is a key factor driving these changes. This research aims to contribute to the internationalization of Turkish higher education by examining the reasons for international students choosing Turkey, their expectations, and their opinions on the quality of Turkish higher education. In line with this purpose, the experiences, expectations, challenges, and issues faced by international students at Ankara University and Kırşehir Ahi Evran University have been comparatively examined and proposed solutions. In this study, which uses qualitative research methods and snowball sampling from purposive sampling methods, 12 international students at Ankara University and 11 international students at Kırşehir Ahi Evran University participated. The data were analyzed using MAXQDA Qualitative Analysis Software with the content analysis method. As a result of the study, six themes have been identified regarding the problems encountered by international students and the solutions proposed for these problems, including "Reason for Choosing Turkey," "Reason for Choosing the University," "Reason for Choosing the Department," "Problems Experienced," and "Gains of Studying Abroad."
Understanding the Internationalization of Higher Education in Turkey: The meaning and Current Policies* Research Article, 2022
In the present study, the issue under scrutiny is the meaning and current policies of the internationalization of higher education (HEI) in Turkey. This research is a descriptive case study and the data were collected through document analysis. The documents analyzed within the scope of the study are as follows: “Internationalization Strategy Document in Higher Education 2018-2022 (CoHE, 2017)”; “Research Project Report on Making Turkish Universities an Attraction Center for International Students in the Framework of Internationalization of Higher Education (Kadıoğlu & Özer, 2015)”; “Growth, Quality, Internationalization: A Roadmap for Higher Education in Turkey (Çetinsaya, 2014)”, “10th Development Plan 2014-2018 (T.R. Ministry of Development, 2013)” and “11th Development Plan 2019-2023 (T.R. Presidential Strategy and Budget Department, 2019)”. The content analysis method was used to analyze the data. The available evidence seems to suggest that the internationalization of higher education in Turkey has academic meanings in the sub-dimensions of education/training, institutional quality, research/publication, and human resources; cultural meanings in the sub-dimensions of cultural ambassador, diversity, and integration; political meanings in foreign policy, soft power, political closeness sub-dimensions and, finally, economic meanings in the sub-dimensions of human resources, growth, global competition, and economic mobility. There is overwhelming evidence corroborating the notion that the policies of recognition and visibility, mobility, internationalization, strategic planning, and student opportunities have been applied to the internationalization of higher education in Turkey. Overall, this study strengthens the need for the Internationalization of Higher Education Working Committee, which comprises all the stakeholders under one roof. The current data highlight the importance of continuous efforts to make the faculty members, students, and administrative staff competent in foreign languages.
Although English-speaking countries are still the main destination of international students, several regional hubs have emerged as new destinations for these students. The current incoming international student population suggests that Turkey is one of these newly emerging regional hubs. In particular, students from the Balkans choose Turkey as a destination for study abroad. The aim of this qualitative study was to investigate factors motivating students from Balkan countries to choose Turkey for study abroad and their experiences during their studies in Turkey. The study revealed that socio-cultural proximity seems to be a strong motive behind their choices of study abroad destinations. In addition, economic and academic rationales emerged as secondary and tertiary motives for specifying Turkey as a study abroad destination for students from Balkan countries. The results suggest that compared to traditional destinations for international students, Turkey's international attractiveness in higher education is based on unique rationales.
The Internationalization of Higher Education in Turkey: Creating an Index
The aim of this study is to test the validity and reliability of the Internationalization Index of Higher Education in Turkey, which provides a ranking of institutions of higher education in Turkey according to their degree of internationalization. The item discrimination, construct validity (exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses), and internal consistencies of the index's indicators and subindicators were tested using data obtained from 300 faculty members. The findings obtained showed that the index was made up of five indicators—(i) university research performance, (ii) curricular efficiency, (iii) international linkages, (iv) student support, and (v) urban sufficiency—as well as of 33 subindicators, and that the index was valid and reliable. The study then made use of the Delphi method to establish the weight of the index's indicators and subindicators. In sum, it can be said that the study effectively constitutes a proof toward utilization of the Internationalization Index of Higher Education in Turkey for the ranking of institutions of higher education in terms of internationalization.
Regional Internationalization in Higher Education between Turkey and The Balkans
Although English-speaking countries are still the main destination of international students, several regional hubs have emerged as new destinations for these students. The current incoming international student population suggests that Turkey is one of these newly emerging regional hubs. In particular, students from the Balkans choose Turkey as a destination for study abroad. The aim of this qualitative study was to investigate factors motivating students from Balkan countries to choose Turkey for study abroad and their experiences during their studies in Turkey. The study revealed that socio-cultural proximity seems to be a strong motive behind their choices of study abroad destinations. In addition, economic and academic rationales emerged as secondary and tertiary motives for specifying Turkey as a study abroad destination for students from Balkan countries. The results suggest that compared to traditional destinations for international students, Turkey's international attractiveness in higher education is based on unique rationales.