ADMINISTRACION DE LAS REMUNERACIONES EN LA INSTITUCION

Internationalisation has moved up among the top strategic items on the agendas of most higher edu- cation institutions. Already in 2006, a survey by the International Association of Universities (IAU) found that 73 percent of the participating higher education institutions assigned high priority to internationalisa- tion (Knight 2006). Aspects of internationalisation are important to recruitment strategies and are re- flected in a number of international rankings.

Few linkages to overall internationalisation strate- gies.

In interviews for this evaluation, both institute level faculty and management of Norwegian universities and university colleges were asked to comment on the relevance of the Quota Scheme to these chal- lenges. Across the large majority of institutions the responses were similar: The Quota Scheme is seen as a welcome supplement to institutional strategies, but does not influence priorities and is not particu- larly influenced by them either. For most of them, internationalisation strategies are conceived and executed independently of the Quota Scheme. To institutions with strong partnerships with univer- sities in developing countries, notably the University of Bergen and the University of Life Sciences, the role of the Quota Scheme is more visibly underpin- ning broader programmes. Interviewed staff and faculty across different types of institutions note that the Quota Scheme adds value to existing partner- ships but hardly stimulates partnerships by itself. When staff at all levels still come out quite strongly in defence of the Quota Scheme, it is not because removing it would significantly affect their institu- tions. Instead, many see the scheme as an im- portant instruments to contribute to a global com- mon good.

52 EVALUATION OF THE QUOTA SCHEME 2001-2012 | DAMVAD.COM

Localized efforts and committed individuals

Typically, the Quota Scheme is closely followed and frequently used by a relatively small number of com- mitted individuals on an institute level. Localized pockets of faculty fill up the quota student slots, not overall institutional strategies. Interestingly, this lo- calized approach is not unique to the Quota Scheme. An important limitation to internationalisa- tion noted in the above-referenced White paper re- lates to weak linkages between localized initiatives and overall institutional strategies. Evaluations have indicated that internationalisation efforts on an insti- tutional level rarely capture and reflect efforts and priorities made by institutes and faculty, and vice versa. Internationalisation efforts tend to be concen- trated in defined pockets, often driven by committed and idealistic individuals, partly idealistically moti- vated (St.meld. nr. 14 (2008-2009)).

More important to smaller than larger institutions Smaller institutions typically assign greater im- portance to the Quota Scheme than larger ones. An advantage of the Quota Scheme noted in particular by the smaller university colleges interviewed is that it is available to all Norwegian universities and uni- versity colleges. Since the introduction of The Nor- wegian Programme for Capacity Development in Higher Education (NORHED) launched in 2013, in- ternationalisation opportunities specifically related to developing countries have become more compet- itive and more concentrated. In light of this, several of the institutions indicate that they believe the Quota Scheme will be more important to them in the future. For small institutions, the Quota Scheme clearly also makes them attractive for international students in a way that they would not otherwise ex- perience.

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Limited linkages with other efforts

SIU has administrative responsibility for several pro- grammes and schemes that in different ways sup- port internationalisation in education and capacity building in developing countries. The programmes have different funding sources, including Ministry of Education and Research and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

An example of a programme covering one quota country, but with a clear goal of internationalisation to strengthen relevance and quality, is the High North Programme.21 _{The High North Programme is} an example of a fellowship programme with a clear goal of improving the relevance and quality in edu- cation, through expansion, strengthening and dis- semination of knowledge about or relevant to the High North.22 _{By specifying thematic areas, the pro-} gramme also puts a stronger emphasis on aca- demic development, inherently on relevance. The programme supports cooperation between higher education institutions in Norway and institutions in Canada, Japan, Russia, the Republic of Korea and the United States. The goal is to expand, strengthen and disseminate knowledge about or relevant to the High North. Compared to the Quota Scheme how- ever, the High North Programme has a stronger em- phasis on and financing for partnerships between institutions. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is re- sponsible for the High North Programme.

The Norwegian Cooperation Programme in Higher Education with Eurasia, which also the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is responsible for, covering both for- mer and present countries under the Quota

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EVALUATION OF THE QUOTA SCHEME 2001-2012 | DAMVAD.COM 53 Scheme.23 _{The programme supports project coop-}

eration between Norwegian institutions and institu- tions in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Ka- zakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turk- menistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. The overall goal of the programme is to contribute to renewal and in- ternationalisation of higher education in the cooper- ating countries. One part of the programme con- cerns project cooperation between educational in- stitutions in Norway and in Eurasia. Another part concerns a scholarship programme.

In interviews with Norwegian higher education insti- tutions, there seemed to be limited view on how these programmes and the Quota Scheme could complement each other.