A policy evaluation of the Bologna Declaration and its impacts on the United States' leadership status in the globalized higher education market

Higher education is no longer a national concept, but rather a global concept. Globalization has enacted competition as a new driving force in higher education. This includes competition for students, faculty, research, and innovation and technology. To be a leader in this competitive and global higher education market, institutions must internationalize their campuses. The United States has long been the number one destination for international students. However, Europe has implemented several higher education reforms, including the Bologna Declaration, to increase their attractiveness, visibility, and competitiveness. In response to Europe’s initiatives, international student advocates like me are asking if international students will begin choosing Europe over the United States for higher education. More specifically, I am asking if and how the Bologna Declaration directly threatens the United States’ competitive edge over the international student market. Using a critical pragmatist theoretical framework, I have conducted a policy analysis of the implications of globalized competition in higher education, and examined responses to the Bologna Declaration and other international student competition influences from the top twenty international student-enrolling institutions in the United States. To remain competitive, American institutions need to consider curriculum reforms, diversify international student recruitment, and collaborate nationally to combat negative global perceptions of the United States, advocate for streamlined student visa processes, and increase funding opportunities for international students. Growing competition, combined with our nation’s political climate, has increased the urgency for higher education institutions to lobby for these changes, and I believe these changes will have true policy implications for our higher education institutions and our national government that will make us more attractive to international students, as well as to our own citizens.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Educ Policy, Orgzn & Leadrshp

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2017

Author dc:creator

• Spark, Elizabeth Marla

Contributors dc:contributor

• McCarthy, Cameron
• Greene, Jennifer
• Welton, Anjalé
• Lamers, Nicole

• Bologna
• International
• Competition
• Recruitment

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2017 Elizabeth Spark

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/97555

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/97555