Abstract:

Internationalization has become one of key issues within higher education cross-border development due to overall globalization. Scholars underline that internationalization is multifaceted in its nature and focus on the market issues, international rankings, academic excellence, etc. (1).
The research goal was to explore ways to strengthen internationalization at home through non-formal learning activities of domestic students. The above aspect of internationalization phenomenon and practice has not been subject to research so far. Meanwhile, the angle could be relevant, taking into account financial limits, lack of civil safety and increased f terrorism threat that today affect the students’ capacity for international mobility.
The research statement argues that the university-based non-formal learning could contribute to the domestic students’ internationalization at home.
The research background rests on the understanding internationalization as the process of bringing up global citizens; internationalization at home includes any activity and event that involves international students and representatives of other international communities (2) , thus enriching the domestic students’ international experience (3).
The methodology comprised relevant literature review and empirical analysis of students’ engagement in non-formal activities within the program of studies.
The empirical research was carried out at the Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia and involved full-time students of the university graduate school of law.
The above school program of studies integrates the formal curriculum and non-formal extracurricular activities, that include students’ participation in international research events, volunteering activities in the area of law and language mediation within international environment, students’ engagement in in international contests, etc.
The empirical studies included the observation of academic progress of domestic students who either engaged or not engaged in the non-formal activities, the survey of the above mentioned students.
The research findings proved that non-formal learning as part of integrated curriculum combining academic studies and extracurricular activities strongly contribute to fostering domestic students’ international background and expertise regarding their academic progress and future professional activities. The research results made it possible to map a number of techniques to enhance internationalization at home for domestic students. The research proved that the goal of fostering the domestic students’ internationalization at home could be reached if carefully planned, structured, monitored and promoted. The relevant tools and techniques will be considered in the report.
References
1.Chan, W.W.Y, Dimmock, C. ( 2008) The internationalization of universities:Globalist, internationalist and translocalist models, Journal of Research in International Education, vol. 7 no. 2, 184-204
2.Baldassar, L., McKenzie, L. (2016) Beyond “Just Being There”: Teaching Internationalization at Home in Two Qualitative Methods Units, Teaching Sociology,vol. 44 no. 2, 84-95
3.Soria, K.M., Troisi, J.(2014) Internationalization at Home, Alternatives to Study Abroad: Implications for Students’ Development of Global, International, and Intercultural Competencies, Journal of Studies in International Education , vol. 18 no. 3, 261-280

Keywords:

Domestic students' internationalization, Internationalization at home.