Abstract:

The present paper debates the issue of internationalization of universities in the context of competition to ascend in the numerous global rankings. The study represents the starting point for a further investigation supported by University POLITEHNICA of Bucharest on the degree of internationalization in our university. It’s an ambitious initiative focused mainly on the Faculty of Engineering in Foreign Languages, the only one in campus who provides engineering studies in the world languages English, French and German. The faculty benefits of a multicultural educational context with foreign bachelor and master students. A large part of them are Erasmus students, the target of this paper because they have comparison ground and experience from their own country in order to suggest further improvements. While theory about the assessment of higher education programs provides few methods for measuring the internationalization degree, the practice is more advanced. There are numerous organizations which provide international rankings for universities, like TOPMBA, QS World University Ranking, Academic Ranking of World Universities, Webometrics Ranking of World Universities and many others. All of them offer a general opinion regarding university internationalization degree but none of them considers foreign students opinion enrolled in the institutions.

The study focuses mainly on how foreign students consider our university from the internationalization degree and from the educational perspectives. The survey monitors as major points the language, curriculum, adaptation, necessities, infrastructure part, as well as the intercultural component. The survey comprises items regarding teacher’s openness and adaptability in the intercultural context, colleagues support and attitude. Student’s thoughts and feelings regarding the achievements obtained through international studies are the main concern of this study and therefore the students are asked to rate the overall experience as well as to identify the major advantages and drawbacks.

Keywords:

Internationalization of universities, survey, international university rankings.