Remaking Universities: Continuing Reform of Higher Education
Chapter 4 Toward Further University Reform
Section 3. Responding to the Demands of Globalization
3. Facilitating Exchange
The years ahead are likely to see increasing cooperation and exchange with universities and research institutes around the world. There will also be more frequent exchange activities involving students and teachers, joint research, and symposiums. To foster exchange and cooperation among universities it is necessary to create an environment in which universities can realize their potential. This requires increasing the funds that can be allocated at the discretion of university presidents and other administrators and improving conditions for the acceptance and dispatch of students and teachers. Consideration should also be given to introducing the semester system as a way of facilitating exchange. In addition, it is important for more teachers to experience teaching and research guidance at foreign universities, and
the sabbatical leave system * should therefore be studied.
Other priorities include the establishment of administrative organizations specializing in exchange with other institutions and staffed by personnel having an international orientation. Now that universities are forming increasingly close links with the community and other countries, it is no longer appropriate to leave these matters to university presidents and a few interested teachers. Internationalization and the shift to an information-oriented society are reflected in the growing volume of administrative work carried out by universities in such areas as planning, surveys, publicity, and public relations. Universities need to improve their organizational systems and capacity in these areas.
