Abstract:

Internationalization is recognized as a key field in European open universities and is firmly anchored as a vital objective within their strategic management processes. Internationalizing a distance education system with a large and varied body requires that internationalization activities in teaching, learning, research, and knowledge transfer be specifically tailored to Open and Distance Learning (ODL). The internationalization strategies and policies of the open universities focus on some strategic goal areas indicators of which are institutional cooperation and networks, virtual and physical mobility, international digital teaching projects, research projects, inter-institutional bilateral agreements, partnerships, membership of and active participation in international university networks, international study programs, externally funded projects, e-learning training projects, master and doctoral training, recognition of academic degrees and higher education diplomas, etc. In the framework of qualitative research methodology, this study is designed as a comparative, descriptive research, analyzing the internationalization policies and models of leading open universities in Europe. The purposeful sampling has been based on the membership of these institutions to European Association of Distance Teaching Universities (EADTU). The research data were collected through the annual reports, strategic plans, internationalization strategy & policy documents, periodic written sources and project documents of the member universities. Since internationalization has a strong transformative potential in the management of open and distance learning, the purpose of the study has been to investigate the effects of internationalization in the strategic management of ODL in higher education. It has been determined that there is an awareness of internationalization in all open universities in the sample group; and the international practices of the universities are mostly seen in academic and administrative activities. The similarities and differences have been found as regards strategic management, quality assurance, intercultural learning etc. In this context, as a result of the comparative analysis and discussion of the findings derived from documents obtained from the websites of related universities, it is concluded that strategies and policies for internationalization differ due to administrative/legislative and cultural issues and the nature of ODL compared to traditional face-to-face education. The study has also indicated that the presence of international students, the recruitment of foreign lecturers, virtual mobility programs, international bilateral agreements, e-learning projects, joint degree programs are indicators of internationalization of open universities. In conclusion, in line with the results obtained from the study, suggestions have been presented to university executives as well as to researchers studying the area of management and internationalization of ODL.

Keywords:

Internationalization, open universities, open and distance learning, digital education, transnational education.