What are the criteria for determining the success of a university?

Dr. Deborah Saucier, President and Vice-Chancellor of Vancouver Island University (Canada), speaking at the conference

Call for cooperation between Canada and ASEAN

SEAMEO Regional Training Center in Vietnam (SEAMEO RETRAC) in collaboration with the British Columbia Council for International Education (BCCIE), the Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE), and the Canadian Association of Colleges and Institutes (CICan) organized an international conference on leadership and management of higher education in 2024 on October 15, gathering about 70 scholars to attend and report.

At the event, President and Vice-Chancellor of Vancouver Island University, Deborah Saucier, said that in the 2010-2011 school year, only 7.2% of the total student population in Canada were international students. By the 2019-2020 school year, this rate had increased to 17.8%. International students coming to Canada are mostly concentrated in STEM fields, but also study business, health, arts, etc.

During the workshop, Dr. Saucier also called on ASEAN and Canadian schools to strengthen international cooperation to open joint training programs or student exchanges. Because today's students are no longer the same as before Covid-19 and the same is true for schools. "It's time for us to create new educational paths for students," Ms. Saucier emphasized.

Scholars, experts, and university leaders from various countries attended the event.

Ms Saucier added that the province of British Columbia, where Vancouver Island University is located, aims to create 1 million jobs over the next decade. This creates opportunities for international students in all fields with the goal of making British Columbia "a trusted destination for ASEAN students".

"The success of a university leader like me is not measured by the number of students enrolled, but by the number of students who achieve their goals and have successful lives after graduation," said Ms. Saucier.

How to develop universities towards internationalization

At the workshop, experts also focused on discussing the internationalization of university education institutions. For example, in the Philippines, Associate Professor Paul Anthony Balagtas (National University in Clark City) commented that some private universities in this country are implementing internationalization with the core goal of improving training quality, not commercialization. In addition, this also helps preserve and promote ASEAN culture. "This is an important requirement for the Southeast Asian region in the process of international integration," Mr. Balagtas shared.

According to Associate Professor Balagtas, internationalization is manifested by schools focusing on developing multidisciplinary and comprehensive programs, some even establishing credit transfer mechanisms. Faculties attract international students through degree programs and cultural exchange programs. In addition, universities also cooperate with businesses in the ASEAN region and other Asian countries to create international exchange opportunities.

Dr. Christopher Busch (University of Windsor, Canada) commented that schools still face certain barriers to building an international integration environment. "Depending on the cultural context, there may be conflicts within the school, related to the school's internal priorities, a lack of common understanding of this process among the school's agencies and a lack of leadership direction," said Mr. Busch.

From left: Associate Professor Paul Anthony Balagtas (National University of Clark City, Philippines) and Dr. Christopher Busch (University of Windsor, Canada)

Dr. Busch notes that to truly move toward internationalization, universities need to encourage their departments to engage more in international education activities. “Leaders must help employees believe that they are an important part of the organization. Change starts with leadership initiatives, followed by the allocation of resources so that departments can implement them,” Busch advises.

Ms. Le Thi Thuy Duong, Director of SEAMEO RETRAC, analyzed that leadership in higher education is no longer just about managing organizations but about inspiring innovation, promoting inclusiveness, preparing students with critical thinking skills, adaptability and global citizenship. This is the way to prepare the next generation to succeed in an increasingly complex and globally connected world.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/dau-la-tieu-chi-xac-dinh-su-thanh-cong-cua-truong-dai-hoc-185241016082758576.htm