Internationalization strategies in turkish higher education: A qualitative inquiry in the process approach context

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to explicate internationalization strategies in Turkish higher education within the process approach framework. This study is a qualitative case study. The study group was consisted of eight universities which were listed in 100 in the Times Higher Education ranking database. Some interviews with the directors of Office of International Relations were made. Eleven participants, directors of the offices, were purposively selected to participate in semi-structured interviews. Data drawn from interviews were evaluated with content analysis technique. The first finding showed that socio cultural and academic rationales are major motivations for those universities relatively at a better internationalization level. In academic strategies dimension, curriculum development, using a foreign language as a medium of instruction, orientation and supervising are the main educational and social activities. For institutional strategies, support of the senior management and faculty, reward and incentive mechanisms are on the agenda. In recent years, there is becoming a greater awareness about internationalization in Turkish higher education system but some policies are needed to improve the quality together with quantity. It is suggested that for a better internationalization process, coherent and holistic policies supporting each other should be developed.