Abstract
We continue to understand little about how to best design and operate transnational collaborations between universities to advance research and education for sustainability. This article explores general practices in transnational research and teaching that can provide information and inspiration for the sustainability field. The article follows a systematic review protocol and examines 46 articles involving 147 universities engaged in transnational collaborations. First, it presents the main features of these collaborations according to: (a) locations connected; (b) objectives pursued and subjects addressed; (c) implementation. Second, it discusses how reflecting on challenges and strategies encountered in these collaborations can support transnational sustainability research and education. The article concludes highlighting success factors for transnational collaboration, including: combining local and global considerations; making effective use of digital technologies; capitalizing on cultural and national differences; and making the best of available resources.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 764-779 |
| Number of pages | 16 |
| Journal | Journal of Cleaner Production |
| Volume | 168 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Dec 1 2017 |
Keywords
- Digitalization
- Globalization
- Higher education for sustainable development
- Internationalization
- Sustainability research
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
- Environmental Science(all)
- Strategy and Management
- Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
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Transnational collaboration for sustainability in higher education : Lessons from a systematic review. / Caniglia, Guido; Luederitz, Christopher; Groß, Milena; Muhr, Maximilian; John, Beatrice; Keeler, Lauren; von Wehrden, Henrik; Laubichler, Manfred; Wiek, Arnim; Lang, Daniel.
In: Journal of Cleaner Production, Vol. 168, 01.12.2017, p. 764-779.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Transnational collaboration for sustainability in higher education
T2 - Lessons from a systematic review
AU - Caniglia, Guido
AU - Luederitz, Christopher
AU - Groß, Milena
AU - Muhr, Maximilian
AU - John, Beatrice
AU - Keeler, Lauren
AU - von Wehrden, Henrik
AU - Laubichler, Manfred
AU - Wiek, Arnim
AU - Lang, Daniel
N1 - Funding Information: We thank the two anonymous reviewers for their critical and constructive comments. Guido Caniglia was supported by a post-doctoral fellowship from the Institute for Ethics and Transdisciplinary Sustainability Research ; Christopher Luederitz was supported by the seed grant “Establishing a new model of cross-cultural academic collaboration for sustainability” at Leuphana Univeristy of Lüneburg . Appendix A The following search string was used to identify relevant articles in the Scopus database, resulting in 1111 unique publication on January 18th, 2016 TITLE-ABS-KEY (university) AND (cooperat* OR collaborat*) AND (institutional*) AND (internationalization OR internationalizing OR “international cooperation” OR “international collaboration”) AND (research OR teaching) AND (LIMIT-TO(LANGUAGE,"English”) ) AND (EXCLUDE(DOCTYPE,"bk”) ) AND (EXCLUDE(DOCTYPE,"ch”) ) AND (EXCLUDE(SRCTYPE,"k”) ) AND (EXCLUDE(SRCTYPE,"b”) ) Appendix B Authors Year Title Source title Vol. Issue Page start Page end DOI Dühr S., Cowell R., Markus E. 2016 Europeanizing planning education and the enduring power of national institutions International Planning Studies 21 1 16 33 10.1080/13563475.2015.1114447 Pearce A. 2016 Internationalization strategy implemented through faculty exchange: Strategic entrepreneurship in a 'new' UK university International Journal of Business Innovation and Research 10 1 43 64 10.1504/IJBIR.2016.073243 Sutrisno A., Pillay H. 2015 Knowledge transfer through a transnational program partnership between Indonesian and Australian universities Asia Pacific Education Review 16 3 379 388 10.1007/s12564-015-9384-7 Saulnier C.R., Bagiati A., Brisson J.G. 2015 Design based wilderness education: A cross-cultural experience in engineering education Proceedings - Frontiers in Education Conference, FIE 2 2 10.1109/FIE.2014.7044034 Somerville M.M., Cooper L., Torhell C., Hashert C. 2015 At home in the world: International library staff exchange program highlights IFLA Journal 41 4 326 335 10.1177/0340035215596348 Sewankambo N., Tumwine J.K., Tomson G., Obua C., Bwanga F., Waiswa P., Katabira E., Akuffo H., Persson K., Peterson S. 2015 Enabling Dynamic Partnerships through Joint Degrees between Low- and High-Income Countries for Capacity Development in Global Health Research: Experience from the Karolinska Institutet/Makerere University Partnership PLoS Medicine 12 2 10.1371/journal.pmed.1001784 Hyde A., McGarry J., Thompson S., Wilkie K., Aubeeluck A. 2015 The development of a shared e-learning resource across three distinct programmes based at universities in England, Ireland and Scotland Innovations in Education and Teaching International 52 4 393 402 10.1080/14703297.2013.860879 May D., Wold K., Moore S. 2015 Using interactive online role-playing simulations to develop global competency and to prepare engineering students for a globalised world European Journal of Engineering Education 40 5 522 545 10.1080/03043797.2014.960511 Horta H., Patr'cio M.T. 2015 Setting-up an international science partnership program: A case study between Portuguese and US research universities Technological Forecasting and Social Change 10.1016/j.techfore.2015.07.027 Ayah R., Jessani N., Mafuta E.M. 2014 Institutional capacity for health systems research in East and Central African schools of public health: Knowledge translation and effective communication Health Research Policy and Systems 12 1 10.1186/1478-4505-12-20 Ndhlovu C.E., Nathoo K., Borok M., Chidzonga M., Aagaard E.M., Connors S.C., Barry M., Campbell T., Hakim J. 2014 Innovations to enhance the quality of health professions education at the University of Zimbabwe College of Health Sciences-NECTAR Program Academic Medicine 89 8 SUPPL. S88 S92 10.1097/ACM.0000000000000336 Bell M., Carr P. 2014 Building communication skills for science students in videoconference tutorials International Journal of Innovation in Science and Mathematics Education 22 4 65 78 Spencer-Oatey H. 2013 Maximizing the Benefits of International Education Collaborations: Managing Interaction Processes Journal of Studies in International Education 17 3 244 261 10.1177/1028315312454545 Gewerc Barujel A., Alonso Ferreiro A. 2013 Cooperation for institutional strengthening: Shared knowledge in the quest for improved teaching [Cooperaci—n para el fortalecimiento: Conocimiento compartido en la bœsqueda de la mejora de la ense–anza] RUSC Universities and Knowledge Society Journal 10 2 446 461 10.7238/rusc.v10i2.1737 Šiška J., Van Swet J., Pather S., Rose D. 2013 From vision to reality: Managing tensions in the development and implementation of an international collaborative partnership programme for institutional change and sustainable development in inclusive education International Journal of Inclusive Education 17 4 336 348 10.1080/13603116.2011.651825 Evans C., Razia R., Cook E. 2013 Building nurse education capacity in India: Insights from a faculty development programme in Andhra Pradesh BMC Nursing 12 1 10.1186/1472-6955-12-8 Li Y. 2013 Cultivating Student Global Competence: A Pilot Experimental Study Decision Sciences Journal of Innovative Education 11 1 125 143 10.1111/j.1540–4609.2012.00371.x Pallangyo K., Debas H.T., Lyamuya E., Loeser H., Mkony C.A., O'Sullivan P.S., Kaaya E.E., MacFarlane S.B. 2012 Partnering on education for health: Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences and the University of California San Francisco Journal of Public Health Policy 33 SUPPL.1 S13 S22 10.1057/jphp.2012.40 Koster J., Velazco A., Munz C.-D., Kraemer E., Wong K.C., Verstraete D. 2012 Hyperion UAV: An international collaboration 50th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting Including the New Horizons Forum and Aerospace Exposition Bohemia E., Ghassan A. 2012 Globally Networked Collaborative Learning in Industrial Design American Journal of Distance Education 26 2 110 125 10.1080/08923647.2012.663678 de Haan D., Sherry E. 2012 Internationalization of the sport management curriculum: Academic and student reflections Journal of Studies in International Education 16 1 24 39 10.1177/1028315311403487 Robbert M.A., Senne L., Asgary N. 2011 Educating the global IT manager International Journal of Technology, Knowledge and Society 7 1 179 190 Hattingh A., Lillejord S. 2011 A networked pathway to the PhD: The African-Norwegian case of productive learning cultures Perspectives in Education 29 3 100 110 Li J.-S., Zhou T.-S., Chu J., Araki K., Yoshihara H. 2011 Design and development of an international clinical data exchange system: The international layer function of the Dolphin Project Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association 18 5 683 689 10.1136/amiajnl-2011-000111 Hodges N., Watchravesringkan K., Karpova E., Hegland J., O'Neal G., Kadolph S. 2011 Collaborative development of textile and apparel curriculum designed to foster students' global competence Family and Consumer Sciences Research Journal 39 4 325 338 10.1111/j.1552–3934.2011.02073.x Uys L.R., Middleton L. 2011 Internationalizing university schools of nursing in South Africa through a Community of Practice International Nursing Review 58 1 115 122 10.1111/j.1466–7657.2010.00854.x Long S., Carlo H., Fraser J., Gosavi A., Grasman S. 2010 Building communication skills in supply chain management and facility logistics curriculum through multi-institutional virtual teaming ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition, Conference Proceedings Curioso W.H., Fuller S., Garcia P.J., Holmes K.K., Kimball A.M. 2010 Ten years of international collaboration in biomedical informatics and beyond: The AMAUTA program in Peru Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association 17 4 477 480 10.1136/jamia.2009.002196 Chung S.H., Ahmad S.I. 2010 Cross-cultural partnership in business education: experience and outcomes International Journal of Management in Education 4 3 333 347 10.1504/IJMIE.2010.033465 Aust R., Quesada A. 2009 International collaborative eLearning to advance social awareness Proceedings of the 8th IASTED International Conference on Web-based Education, WBE 2009 109 114 Lacey-Haun L.C., Whitehead T.D. 2009 Leading change through an international faculty development programme Journal of Nursing Management 17 8 917 930 10.1111/j.1365–2834.2008.00955.x Long S., Moos C., Bartel-Radic A. 2009 Simulating a global learning experience: The role of multi-institutional partnerships in supply chain-logistics course design and improvement 30th Annual National Conference of the American Society for Engineering Management 2009, ASEM 2009 135 141 Vasiu R., Andone D., Robu N. 2009 Ideas and concepts of vicadis - A virtual campus for digital students IADIS International Conference on Cognition and Exploratory Learning in Digital Age, CELDA 2009 235 242 Saavedra J.P., Angarita L.M.P. 2008 Dual degree programs with universities in the state of Florida - USA an internationalization strategy of the engineering college in universidad del Norte, Colombia ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition, Conference Proceedings Mehalik M. 2008 Evaluating an international course in product realization for global opportunities ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition, Conference Proceedings TachŽ S., Kaaya E., Omer S., Mkony C.A., Lyamuya E., Pallangyo K., Debas H.T., MacFarlane S.B. 2008 University partnership to address the shortage of healthcare professionals in Africa Global Public Health 3 2 137 148 10.1080/17441690701766486 Einterz R.M., Kimaiyo S., Mengech H.N.K., Khwa-Otsyula B.O., Esamai F., Quigley F., Mamlin J.J. 2007 Responding to the HIV pandemic: The power of an academic medical partnership Academic Medicine 82 8 812 818 10.1097/ACM.0b013e3180cc29f1 Koskinen L., Jokinen P. 2007 Multicultural healthcare: A transatlantic project Nurse Educator 32 2 89 93 10.1097/01.NNE.0000264330.63662.cd Talley B. 2006 Nurses and nursing education in Ghana: Creating collaborative opportunities International Nursing Review 53 1 47 51 10.1111/j.1466–7657.2006.00431.x Mills J., Eyre G., Harvey R. 2005 What makes provision of e-learning successful? Charles Sturt University's experience in Asia Education for Information 23 1-2 SPEC. ISS. 43 55 Duffy M.E., Farmer S., Ravert P., Huittinen L. 2003 Institutional issues in the implementation of an international student exchange program Journal of Nursing Education 42 9 399 405 Maher J., Sicchia S., Guzm‡n Stein L. 2003 Learning the culture of partnership: A case study in collaboration between a Canadian University and its Costa Rican partner Canadian Journal of Development Studies 24 1 107 118 Edwards N., Bunn H., Morales-Mann E., Papai P., Davies B. 2000 International collaborative workshops. A 6-year partnership between Canada and China. Nurse educator 25 2 88 94 Byrne M.W. 1998 Productive international faculty exchange: One Columbia University to Gothenburg University example Journal of Advanced Nursing 27 6 1296 1304 Praetzel G.D., Curcio J., Dilorenzo J. 1996 Making study abroad a reality for all students International Advances in Economic Research 2 2 174 182 Silva K.T., Peeters R., Lewis J. 1994 Promoting interdisciplinary collaboration in health research in developing countries: lessons from the triangle programme in Sri Lanka Acta Tropica 57 02-Mar 175 184 10.1016/0001-706X(94)90007-8 Appendix C Coding scheme for content analysis. Category Subcategory Definition Examples Area of collaboration: Teaching A1 Virtual collaboration Involves technology-facilitated meetings focusing on teaching collaborations. Videoconferencing A2 Student exchange (not within a study program) Refers to the situation where a student enrolled in a university is studying at another university for a limited time. Erasmus program A3 Visiting lecturers (not within a study program) Refers to the situation where a lecturer employed at a university is teaching at another university for a limited time. Adjunct visiting faculty A4 Shared study program, traveling students Refers to the collaboration of two or more universities in administering a shared study program that awards a degree to students upon completion and requires them to study at least at one other university than where they are enrolled. Double degree programs between universities A5 Shared study program, traveling lecturers Refers to the collaboration of two or more universities in administering a shared study program that awards a degree to students upon completion participating lecturers teach at least at one other university than where they are employed. Double degree programs between universities A6 Joint efforts to improve general quality of teaching Refers broadly to the exchange of information between universities to improve their education programs. Workshops and conferences dedicated to improvement of collaboration Area of collaboration: Research A7 Virtual collaboration Involves technology-facilitated meetings focusing on teaching collaborations. Research collaboration A8 Visiting scholars (not within a specific research project) Refers to the situation where a researcher employed at a university is visiting at another university for a limited time period for doing research. Faculty research visits A9 Single collaborative research project Describes the collaboration of more than one university for carrying out a single research project. Consortia and university networks A10 Multiple collaborative research projects Describes the collaboration of more than one university for conducting research in more than one project. Consortia and university networks A11 Traveling scholars in a research project (A9 or A10 has to be ticked) Refers to the situation where a researcher employed at a university is visiting at another university for a limited time period for doing research within a shared research project. Faculty research visits Duration D Duration of collaboration in years (≤1 year, 2 years, 3 years, …) Year of signing official agreement; if not clearly stated or first year of collaboration Challenges C1 International policy challenges Include difficulties from mismatches between national and international policies, and demands from national or international funding agencies. Mismatch between national regulations and institutional autonomy of universities; additional requirements due to funding from international institutions, e.g. the European Union C2 Regulation challenges Arise from differences in legal and policy frameworks that apply to collaborating universities or university specific regulations. Differences in the implementation of university reforms; non-negotiable national- and institutional rules C3 Resource challenges Refer to factors impeding the collaboration process due to insufficient financial, institutional, infrastructural, and human support. Uneven resource input by collaborating partners; collaboration demanded higher workload from students than comparable courses C4 Intercultural challenges This is about differences in language, procedures, and norms between universities. Differences in the perception of status; different learning needs and habits C5 Organizational challenges Include differences related to administrative structures, institutional routines, and context specifics such as different time zones and academic calendars. Use of different terminology and credit weighting; differences in course timelines and schedules C6 Technical challenges Are due to differences in technical infrastructure and computational skills including capacity for operating facilities required for the collaboration. Not all students own a personal computer or a laptop; issues connected to data handling and security C7 Curriculum Challenges Refer to internal challenges related to curriculum procedures, subjects, awarded degrees as well as accountability and capacities for the collaboration. Lack of priority and interest from senior management; lack of commitment among some lecturers Resources R1 Commitment Refers to people's commitment toward the collaboration including their responsibility, trust, and personal relationships Lecturers and administrative staff from partner institutions show commitment, leadership, responsibility, personal engagement, trust, belief, shared vision R2 Expertise Refers to professional skills and knowledge that help facilitate, guide, decide and judge the collaboration. Collaboration partners possess language and/or IT skills; are experienced in collaboration between universities; universities collaborated before the target collaboration R3 Human support Includes human resources as regular positions as well as voluntarily invested time. Availability of a full time coordinator; employed technicians. R4 Financial support Includes financial support that are provided through internal or external resources. University, government and/or funding agency support collaboration financially Strategies S1 Organizational Agreements Are written agreements and signed documents and statements from partner universities. Memorandum of understanding; official agreement of joint degree S2 International policy adaptation Provides meaningful negotiation and adaptation of procedures, protocols or regulations at the university, national, or international level. Negotiations between objectives of European Union objectives and national or university regulations; financial and administrative reforms S3 Curriculum adaptation Ensures meaningful negotiation and adaptation of curriculum specific procedures and protocols including curriculum subjects, awarded degrees and administrative features. Common grading; dissertation defense adopted at all universities S4 Pilot Tests Ensure the pretesting of specific collaboration elements including procedural and content related issues. Pretesting of technical equipment; test-run concerning grading S5 Organizational flexibility Supports flexible organizational structures and reflection spaces to allow for modification and adaptation of collaboration elements. Repetitive evaluation; Follow-The-Sun concept (realizing 3 working days in a single 24-h period) S6 Human support Ensures sufficient personnel resources as well as commitment, leadership and responsibility. Individual lecturer's self-initiatives; shared vision to better implement missions S7 Intercultural adaptation Implies the acquisition of cultural-specific knowledge including the needed language proficiency before and during the collaboration. Translation of documents; understanding cultural sensitivities S8 Effective Communication Ensures regular (virtual) correspondence and practical interaction between members of the collaboration. Virtual collaboration via Microsoft Windows Live Messenger; skype meetings; site visits midway during the semester S9 Additional resources Strengthen and advance the collaboration through financial and infrastructure support. Computer provided by universities; building additional facilities, e.g. AMPATH Center of Excellence for HIV Care Goals G1 Institutional capacities Includes development and improvement of organizational and institutional related expertise, including but not limited to capacities in internationalization and collaboration. Strengthening the institutional capacity for health social science research and intervention in Sri Lanka; initiating international collaboration G2 Educational programs Refers to development and improvement of degree programs and other educational programs. Curriculum revision; development of competency-based curriculum; development of single courses, summer schools and workshops for staff. G3 Other university activities Includes the development and improvement of other university related activities. Development of research projects, networks and further collaborations; extend networks for communicating learning in health systems research G4 Competencies Refers to the development and improvement competencies in students and/or staff, including the exchange of students and/or staff. Developing cultural competencies in students; enhanced English language skills G5 Resources Refers to the aim of sharing existing or generating new resources, including but not limited to funding, knowledge and infrastructures. Sharing of information and teaching methodology; infrastructure improvements Outcomes O1 Institutional capacities This refers to generated or improved of organizational and institutional related expertise, including but not limited to capacities in internationalization and collaboration. Reflection of one's own systems, approaches and cultural practices in collaborative learning process; experiences in international collaboration O2 Degree programs Is defined by developed or improved degree programs (curricula). Double degree for PhDs; validation of partner university's curriculum O3 Other educational programs Is defined as developed or improved educational programs such as single courses, summer schools and workshops for staff. Establishment of a joint transnational online course; workshops focusing on teaching materials production O4 Research projects Refers to the development or improvement of scientific projects. Joint projects, including research studies; virtual projects on cross-cultural values and practices O5 Organizational structures Refers to development and improvement of organizational structures such as procedural arrangements, networks, and IT infrastructures. Building of a Research Support Center (RSC); leadership in InDepth thematic group on newborn and maternal health O6 Physical structures Is defined as development or improvement of physical structures. Computer rooms; development of several research laboratories O7 Competencies Refers to development or improvement of abilities, expertise, skills and in students and university staff. Students gain global competency skills through role-playing (soft and hard skills); development of cross-cultural competencies O8 Exchange Refers to accomplish exchange of student and university staff. Teacher and students exchange; exchange of two staff members per year and library for five years O9 Scientific performance Refers to improvements of scientific performance including but not limited to scientific publications, positions in university rankings and explored research areas. More than 500 peer-reviewed articles; reduced risk of brain drain O10 Non-scientific performance Includes improved non-scientific performance such as university image, policy-making and hiring practices. Improved quality of marketing materials; collaboration influenced policy-making on both sides Location U University name The numbers indicate members participating in a collaboration (e.g. U1, U2, U3 indicated 3 universities). Not relevant for the geo-coding T Town relevant N Nation relevant Publisher Copyright: © 2017 Elsevier Ltd
PY - 2017/12/1
Y1 - 2017/12/1
N2 - We continue to understand little about how to best design and operate transnational collaborations between universities to advance research and education for sustainability. This article explores general practices in transnational research and teaching that can provide information and inspiration for the sustainability field. The article follows a systematic review protocol and examines 46 articles involving 147 universities engaged in transnational collaborations. First, it presents the main features of these collaborations according to: (a) locations connected; (b) objectives pursued and subjects addressed; (c) implementation. Second, it discusses how reflecting on challenges and strategies encountered in these collaborations can support transnational sustainability research and education. The article concludes highlighting success factors for transnational collaboration, including: combining local and global considerations; making effective use of digital technologies; capitalizing on cultural and national differences; and making the best of available resources.
AB - We continue to understand little about how to best design and operate transnational collaborations between universities to advance research and education for sustainability. This article explores general practices in transnational research and teaching that can provide information and inspiration for the sustainability field. The article follows a systematic review protocol and examines 46 articles involving 147 universities engaged in transnational collaborations. First, it presents the main features of these collaborations according to: (a) locations connected; (b) objectives pursued and subjects addressed; (c) implementation. Second, it discusses how reflecting on challenges and strategies encountered in these collaborations can support transnational sustainability research and education. The article concludes highlighting success factors for transnational collaboration, including: combining local and global considerations; making effective use of digital technologies; capitalizing on cultural and national differences; and making the best of available resources.
KW - Digitalization
KW - Globalization
KW - Higher education for sustainable development
KW - Internationalization
KW - Sustainability research
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85030712881&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85030712881&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.07.256
DO - 10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.07.256
M3 - Review article
AN - SCOPUS:85030712881
VL - 168
SP - 764
EP - 779
JO - Journal of Cleaner Production
JF - Journal of Cleaner Production
SN - 0959-6526
ER -