Leadership Studies Ed.D. Dissertations

Perceptions and Experiences of University Administrators on Internationalization Planning and Implementation at a Midwestern University: A Mixed Methods Study

Date of Award

2013

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)

Department

Leadership Studies

First Advisor

Rachel Reinhart

Second Advisor

Patricia Kubow (Committee Member)

Third Advisor

Judith Zimmerman (Committee Member)

Fourth Advisor

Rosemary Max (Committee Member)

Abstract

The purpose of this mixed methods study was to explore the perceptions and experiences of university administrators on stakeholder involvement in internationalization planning and implementation of internationalization at Mid-Western University (MWU) a public four-year university located in a Midwest state in the United States of America. It has been argued that there is a gap between the study of internationalization planning and implementation of those plans on college campuses (Childress, 2009). This study sought to fill this gap in the literature. A mixed methods study was utilized as a comprehensive way of studying the perceptions (Quantitative variable) and experiences (Qualitative variable) of participants at the subject university. The researcher surveyed 80 university administrators to examine their perceptions of internationalization planning and implementation at MWU. The researcher then utilized nested and extreme case sampling to interview six administrators (three with low perceptions and three with high perceptions) to explore their experiences at MWU with internationalization. A correlational study was performed to measure the relationship between internationalization planning and implementation practices at MWU. A strong positive correlation was found between internationalization planning and implementation practices (r =.69). Also, many administrators on campus did not have knowledge or experience with internationalization planning practices on campus. A view that human and financial resources for internationalization efforts were limited was prevalent among administrators. The researcher provided steps toward the development of comprehensive stakeholder involvement in planning and implementation processes to bring about the internationalization of MWU.

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