Exploring Global Networks Impact in Higher Education International Affairs: Insights from Kevätpäivät 2024

UniPID hosted a session on sustainable internationalization at the Spring Forum 2024. Panelists discussed lessons from global networks, highlighting the need for leadership support, national coordination, and long-term planning for successful partnerships.

UniPID and the Global networks convened a session titled "Networks in search of sustainable and responsible internationalization" at the national Spring Forum for Higher Education International Affairs 2024 in Seinäjoki on 17 May. The roundtable discussion focused on the role of networks as they streamline international engagement, increase opportunities, and amplify the impact of collaborative work. As political priorities change how do networks justify their existence and the longevity of their activities? The roundtable sought responses to the question how university networks succeed and sustain their activities in disruptions.

In 2021, the Ministry of Education and Culture concluded the negotiations on the internationalization programme embedded into the strategic funding with the higher education institutions, creating eight global networks. The networks were to create connections to strengthen Finland’s higher education, competence brand and cooperation network worldwide, attract and recruit international talent to Finland and set up RDI projects to meet global needs. As the funding period of four years is coming to an end, the panel called for by UniPID and the Global networks explored lessons learned by the global networks.

The panelists Irinja Paakkanen, Head of International Affairs at the University of Turku, Riina Subra, Director of the Aalto Global Impact at Aalto University, Associate Professor Emmanuel Acquah from Åbo Akademi University, and Johanna Kivimäki, Counsellor for Higher education and Science at Consulate of Finland, Sao Paulo, Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, gave a multitude of viewpoints on the lasting impact of the Global networks. Creating and establishing the collaborative structures of the networks has presented an administrative burden to the coordinating institutions.

However, the networks have been able to provide seed funding to prepare EU and other external funding applications, which has been of strategic value for the institutions involved. Considering the need for national coordination in creating partnerships with the regions in question, the networks have been of huge benefit. They have been able to create strong partnerships that continue to flourish. Leadership support and commitment is now needed to reap the benefits of the great achievements and maintain trust in the friendships tied. As academics remain committed, institutions need to acknowledge the work done and allocate time to prioritize rethinking partnerships.

The panelists were asked to bring in their insights how the networks have been able to transcend the role for which they were created and be drivers of the internationalization policy. Johanna Kivimäki stressed that the collaboration has built new capacity for internationalization that can feed into the internationalization policy nationally and support reciprocity and institutional commitment in the partnerships. Nationally, we have been able reach a whole new level in internationalization of higher education. The networks have further had an impact on the internationalization of the coordinating institutions and educating newcomers in international collaboration in specific regions, mentioned Irinja Paakkanen.

A new generation of collaborators has strengthened the national networks joining the forces of a number of institutions. Riina Subra mentioned that the questions of ethics raised and the need for structureds support for collaboration with the Global South has created new understanding in the field. Practical steps and long-term planning are still required to scale up activities and to generate realistic paths for Finnish academics to build expertise in this domain. However, we have also witnessed an overlap of activities as four networks were established for Africa collaboration, and there is now an opportunity to consolidate the results. Emmanuel Acquah stated that collaborators at Åbo Akademi University have been able to go beyond all expectations, learning the ethics of collaboration, collecting a huge amount of data in Ghana, co-authoring, and co-learning in their collaborations.

For promoting sustainable long-term partnerships, universities need to have an institutional perspective in their strategies and not put too much pressure on individuals. Universities are requested to have clear processes for partnerships. There is a need to come together to contemplate how to work together in the future and maintain the knowledge gathered. UniPID’s role in supporting the work was considered central.

Wrapping up the session, the session chair and moderator Kaisa Kurki highlighted the need to be agile and transformative as a success factor for the networks. The networks have been successful in national knowledge building. Now there is a need to maintain the partnerships created, maintaining trust and friendships. As we are in this together, we need to come together to find a way forward.

Photo credits: Baim Hanif, 2016 on UnSplash