Diverse professors collaborating globally, symbolizing the key to international education.

Unlocking Global Potential: Why Professors Hold the Key to International Education

Soraya Malik in Mind & Education June 2025 • 4 min read.

"Discover how faculty attitudes and engagement are shaping the future of internationalization in universities worldwide."

In an era defined by interconnectedness, universities worldwide strive to enhance their international profiles. At the heart of this transformation are the professors, whose roles extend far beyond teaching. They are the drivers of internationalization, shaping curricula, fostering global research collaborations, and welcoming diverse perspectives into their classrooms.

Internationalization offers significant opportunities, but it also presents challenges. While a global outlook is essential for universities to achieve world-class status, it can sometimes exacerbate imbalances in global power dynamics. To fully leverage the benefits of globalization, professors across all countries must embrace and promote international engagement.

Despite the clear importance of faculty involvement, their willingness to deepen international engagement appears to have stalled. This article delves into the critical role that professors play in academic institutions' international strategies. It highlights the need for active participation, driven by the understanding that professors are instrumental in shaping international campuses and fostering cross-border educational experiences.

The Critical Role of Professors in Internationalization

Diverse professors collaborating globally, symbolizing the key to international education.

Professors are the cornerstone of any academic institution's internationalization strategy. They contribute to creating curricula for franchised programs and engage in collaborative research with overseas colleagues. They welcome international students into their classrooms and publish in international journals, enriching the academic environment with diverse perspectives and global insights.

Without the active and enthusiastic participation of professors, internationalization efforts are likely to fail. Faculty involvement ensures the success and sustainability of international initiatives. Their engagement transforms institutional goals into tangible outcomes, fostering a global outlook that prepares students for an interconnected world.

Curriculum Development: Crafting internationalized programs that meet global standards.
Collaborative Research: Partnering with international colleagues to address global challenges.
Student Engagement: Creating inclusive classrooms for international students.
Global Scholarship: Publishing in international journals to share research worldwide.

When faculty members are not fully on board, internationalization efforts can become controversial. Some faculty members might resist international assignments or show a lack of sympathy toward international students, hindering the institution's global mission. Ensuring that professors are aligned with and supportive of internationalization goals is essential for fostering a cohesive and successful global strategy.

Moving Forward: Empowering Professors for Global Engagement

The international survey data reveals that the academic profession may be less internationally minded than expected, presenting challenges for internationalization. By addressing these hurdles and empowering professors to become active participants in global initiatives, universities can enhance their international presence and provide students with a truly global education. The engagement and support of professors are essential for transforming universities into hubs of international collaboration and innovation.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.6017/ihe.2013.73.6086, Alternate LINK

Title: Professors: The Key To Internationalization

Subject: General Medicine

Journal: International Higher Education

Publisher: Boston College University Libraries

Authors: Philip Altbach, Gerard Postiglione

Published: 2015-03-17

Everything You Need To Know

What specific contributions do professors make to advance internationalization within universities?

Professors contribute to internationalization through several key activities. They develop curricula for franchised programs to meet global standards, engage in collaborative research with overseas colleagues to address global challenges, create inclusive classrooms for international students, and publish in international journals to share research worldwide. Their involvement ensures the creation of internationalized programs and a globally enriched academic environment.

Why is faculty engagement considered essential for successful internationalization strategies in universities?

Faculty engagement is essential because professors drive the core aspects of internationalization, like curriculum development, collaborative research, and creating inclusive environments. Without their active participation, internationalization efforts risk becoming superficial or controversial, failing to achieve the desired global impact and hindering the institution's ability to foster cross-border educational experiences. Their support transforms institutional goals into tangible outcomes.

What challenges might universities face if faculty members are not fully supportive of internationalization efforts?

If faculty members are not fully supportive, universities may encounter resistance to international assignments and a lack of sympathy toward international students, which can impede the institution's global mission. This can lead to internationalization efforts becoming controversial, with faculty potentially undermining the initiatives through disengagement or direct opposition. Overcoming these challenges requires aligning faculty with internationalization goals.

How do professors contribute to curriculum development in the context of internationalization, and why is this important?

Professors craft internationalized programs that meet global standards. This involves designing courses and programs that incorporate international perspectives, case studies, and global competencies. This curriculum development is vital because it prepares students to operate effectively in a globalized world, fostering an understanding of diverse cultures, economies, and political systems, thus enhancing their readiness for international careers and global citizenship.

What does it mean for professors to engage in 'global scholarship,' and how does it benefit a university's international standing?

For professors, 'global scholarship' primarily means publishing research in international journals to share findings and insights worldwide. This elevates a university's international standing by increasing its visibility and recognition in the global academic community. Furthermore, it demonstrates a commitment to addressing global challenges and contributing to international knowledge, attracting international collaborations, funding, and talented students and faculty from around the world. By participating in global scholarship, faculty enhance both their own and their institution's reputation on the international stage.