Abstract
A dominant concern with internationalisation through the past decades has been the process of strategic transformation of universities. While strategic management has been perceived as a necessary and useful approach in the construction of internationalisation, many criticisms have been levelled against the application of strategic management in internationalisation. One of these criticisms is the ’implementation gap’ between internationalisation strategic plans and their actual outcomes. Based on interview data collected from 73 key actors involved in internationalisation at 16 Dutch public universities, this research identifies 12 elements that comprise the concept strategic management and illustrates how educational practitioners in different sectors (research universities and universities of applied sciences) and job function levels (central and faculty) prioritise these elements. The key contribution of this research is the clarification of the areas where the ’implementation gap’ exists and the causes of this gap. The findings of this research are particularly important in the midst of uncontested popularisation of strategic management, because they can help universities to reduce this gap and improve the effectiveness of their strategic management practices.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Agnew, M., & VanBalkom, W. (2009). Internationalization of the university: Factors impacting cultural readiness for organizational change. Intercultural Education, 20, 451–462.
Bartell, M. (2003). Internationalization of universities: A university culture-based framework. Higher Education, 45, 43–70.
Boden, R., Cox, D., & Nedeva, M. (2006). The appliance of science? New public management and strategic change. Technology Analysis and Strategic Management, 18, 125–141.
Bovaird, T. (2008). Emergent strategic management and planning mechanisms in complex adaptive systems. Public Management Review, 10, 319–340.
Boyne, G., & Gould-Williams, J. (2003). Planning and performance in public organizations: An empirical analysis. Public Management Review, 5, 115–132.
Boyne, G., Gould-Williams, J., Law, J., & Walker, R. (2002). Plans, performance information and accountability: The case of best value. Public Administration, 80, 691–710.
Childress, L. K. (2009). Internationalization plans for higher education institutions. Journal of Studies in International Education, 13, 289–309.
Davies, J. (1992). Developing a strategy for internationalization in universities. In C. Klasek (Ed.). Bridges to the future: Strategies for internationalizing higher education (pp. 177–190). Carbondale, IL: AIEA.
Dearlove, J. (1998). The deadly dull issue of university ‘administration’? Good governance, managerialism and organising academic work. Higher Education Policy, 11, 59–79.
De Boer, H. F. (1996). Changing institutional governance structures. In P. Maassen & F. van Vught (Eds.). Inside academia. New challenges for the academic profession (pp. 83–96). Utrecht: Centre for Higher Education Policy Studies.
De Boer, H. F., & Goedegebuure, L. (2007). ‘Modern’ governance and codes of conduct in Dutch higher education. Higher Education Research and Development, 26, 45–55.
De Boer, H. F., Kolster, R., & Vossensteyn, H. (2010). Motives underlying bachelors-masters transitions: The case of Dutch degree stackers. Higher Education Policy, 23, 381–396.
Dewey, P., & Duff, S. (2009). Reason before passion: Faculty views on internationalization in higher education. Higher Education, 58, 491–504.
De Wit, H. (2002). Internationalisation of higher education in the United States of America and Europe: A historical, comparative, and conceptual analysis. London: Greenwood Press.
Drori, G. S. (2013). Branding of universities: Trends and strategies. International Higher Education, 71, 3–5.
Ellingboe, B. J. (1998). Divisional strategies to internationalise a campus portrait: Results, resistance and recommendations from a case study at US universities. In J. A. Mestenhauser & B. J. Ellingboe (Eds.). Reforming the higher education curriculum: Internationalising the campus (pp. 198–228). Phoenix, AZ: The Oryx Press.
Enders, J., Boer, H., & Weyer, E. (2013). Regulatory autonomy and performance: The reform of higher education re-visited. Higher Education, 65, 5–23.
Foster, W., & Bradach, J. (2005, February). Should non-profits seek profits. Harvard Business Review, 83, 92–100.
Green, M. F. (2003). Internationalizing the campus: A strategic approach. International Educator, 7, 13–26.
Harrison, S., Hunter, D. J., & Pollitt, C. (1990). Controlling health professionals: The future of work and organisation in the NHS. Buckingham: Open University Press.
Hazelkorn, E. (2009). Rankings and the battle for world-class excellence: Institutional strategies and policy choices. Higher Education Management and Policy, 21(1), 55–76.
Huisman, J. (2007, July). Research on the internationalisation of higher education: The state of the art. Paper prepared for the seminar on the Internationalisation of Higher Education, Department of Education, University of Bath, Bath, UK.
Jiang, X. (2008). Towards the internationalisation of higher education from a critical perspective. Journal of Further and Higher Education, 32, 347–358.
Kehm, B. M., & Teichler, U. (2007). Research on internationalisation in higher education. Journal of Studies in International Education, 11, 260–273.
Ketteridge, S., Marshall, S., & Fry, H. (2002). The effective academic: A handbook for enhanced academic practice. London: Kogan Page.
Knight, J. (1994). Internationalization: Elements and checkpoints. Ottawa: Canadian Bureau for International Education.
Knight, J. (2001). Monitoring the quality and progress of internationalization. Journal of Studies in International Education, 5, 228–243.
Kwiek, M. (2001). Globalization and higher education. Higher Education in Europe, 26, 27–38.
Lepori, B., & Kyvik, S. (2010). The research mission of universities of applied sciences and the future configuration of higher education systems in Europe. Higher Education Policy, 23, 295–316.
Marginson, S. (2007). Global position and position taking: The case of Australia. Journal of Studies in International Education, 11, 5–32.
Marginson, S., & van der Wende, M. C. (2007). To rank or to be ranked: The impact of global rankings in higher education. Journal of Studies in International Education, 11, 306–329.
Middlehurst, R., & Woodfield, S. (2007). International activity or internationalisation strategy? Insights from an institutional pilot study in the UK. Tertiary Education and Management, 13, 263–279.
Miller, H. (1994). The management of change in universities. Buckingham: Open University Press.
Mintzberg, H. (1990). Strategy formation: Schools of thought. In J. W. Fredrickson (Ed.). Perspectives on strategic management (pp. 105–235). New York, NY: Harper & Row.
Naidoo, V. (2010). From ivory towers to international business: Are universities export ready in their recruitment of international students. Journal of Studies in International Education, 14, 5–28.
Neave, G., & Van Vught, F. (1991). Prometheus bound: The changing relationship between government and higher education in Western Europe. Oxford: Pergamon Press.
Nuffic. (2011). Selectie is in Europa heel normaal [Selection in Europe is very normal]. Tranfer, 19, 8–11.
Nuffic. (2013). Mobilieit in Beeld 2012: international mobiliteit in Nederlandse Hoger Onderwijs [Mobility in picture: International mobility in Dutch higher education]. Retrieved November 12, 2013, from https://doi.org/www.nuffic.nl/bibliotheek/mobiliteit-in-beeld-2012.pdf
Pidcock, S. (2010). Strategic planning in a new university. Journal of Further and Higher Education, 25, 67–83.
Pollitt, C., & Bouckaert, G. (2004). Public management reform (2nd ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Ray, G., Barney, J. B., & Muhanna, W. A. (2004). Capabilities, business processes, and competitive advantage: Choosing the dependent variable in empirical tests of the resource-based view. Strategic Management Journal, 25, 23–37.
Sanderson, G. (2008). A foundation for the internationalization of the academic self. Journal of Studies in International Education, 12, 276–307.
Sousa, C., de Nijs, W. F., & Hendriks, P. H. J. (2010). Secrets of the beehive: Performance management in university research organizations. Human Relations, 63, 1439–1460.
Stiles, D. (2004). Narcissus revisited: The values of management academics and their role in business school strategies in the UK and Canada. British Journal of Management, 15, 157–175.
Stohl, M. (2007). We have met the enemy and he is us: The role of the faculty in the internationalization of higher education in the coming decade. Journal of Studies in International Education, 11, 359–372.
Taylor, J. (2004). Toward a strategy for internationalisation: Lessons and practice from four universities. Journal of Studies in International Education, 8, 149–171.
Theisens, H. C. (2004). The state of change: Analysing policy change in Dutch and English higher education (PhD thesis). Twente University, The Netherlands.
Thompson, J. L., & Martin, F. (2005). Strategic management: Awareness and changes (5th ed.). London: Thomson Learning.
Trahar, S., & Hyland, F. (2011). Experiences and perceptions of internationalisation in higher education in the UK. Higher Education Research and Development, 30, 623–633.
Trice, A. G. (2003). Faculty perceptions of graduate international students: The benefits and challenges. Journal of Studies in International Education, 7, 379–403.
Van Dijk, H., & Meijer, K. (1997). The internationalisation cube: A tentative model for the study of organisational designs and the results of internationalisation in higher education. Higher Education Management, 9, 157–167.
Volberda, H. W., & Elfring, T. (Eds.). (2002). Rethinking strategy (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Watson, D. (2003). Leadership in UK higher education. In M. Brundrett, N. Button, & R. Smith (Eds.). Leadership in education (pp. 181–196). London: Sage.
Wolverton, M., Ackerman, R., & Holt, S. (2005). Preparing for leadership: What academic department chairs need to know. Journal of Higher Education Policy and Management, 27, 227–238.
Yielder, J., & Codling, A. (2004). Management and leadership in the contemporary university. Journal of Higher Education Policy and Management, 26, 315–328.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
de Haan, H.H. Where is the gap between internationalisation strategic planning and its implementation? A study of 16 Dutch universities’ internationalisation plans. Tert Educ Manag 20, 135–150 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1080/13583883.2014.896407
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13583883.2014.896407