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International Academic Programmes Office International Academic Programmes Office Evaluating the Impact and Value of the International Full Degree Students at the University of Cape Town February 2011 Contact Person: Birungi Korutaro Address: P. O. Box 2129, Clareinch, 7740, Cape Town, South Africa E-mail: [email protected] Cell: 072 663 7815 Tel: (021) 674 0504 Fax: (021) 674 0503 Mthente Research and Consulting Services (Pty) Ltd, February 2011 1 Executive Summary Introduction As a result of the University of Cape Town‟s commitment to internationalisation, its academic reputation and a range of other factors, the number of International Full Degree (IFD) students has been steadily growing over the past ten years, thus requiring key decisions by the institution regarding the growth, services and integration of this important cohort of students. The International Academic Programmes Office (IAPO) at UCT commissioned this study to evaluate the impact and value of IFD students at UCT, for the students, and for a range of stakeholders at UCT and in the surrounding communities of Cape Town. This report presents the following: A contextual analysis of IFD students and IFD services at UCT; A benchmarking chapter assessing five international case studies of universities around the world that host IFD students; An assessment of the academic, social, economic, financial and strategic impact and value of IFD students; An assessment of service delivery to IFD students (by IAPO and other UCT offices); A presentation of the key conclusions of the research; Recommendations for academic policy related to internationalisation of the curriculum and research, for the strategic vision of Internationalisation at Home, for operational changes to IAPO and UCT service delivery, and for the future growth of IFD students at UCT. Methodology To carry out the study, Mthente Research and Consulting Services (Pty) Ltd designed a comprehensive research plan involving both quantitative and qualitative research methods. These included: Desktop research benchmarking the impact and value of IFD students internationally and in Africa, allowing for an assessment of key lessons from these case studies; Quantitative surveys based on online and face-to-face interviews with current IFD students, IFD alumni and South African students at UCT; Focus groups with current IFD students of all levels of study and regions of origin; Mthente Research and Consulting Services (Pty) Ltd, February 2011 2 In-depth interviews with key stakeholders at UCT (UCT Executive, IAPO staff, Deans of Faculties and professors, Directors of UCT administrative and support offices and departments); An analysis of IFD graduate throughput data provided by UCT. Participation in the surveys, interviews and focus groups was overwhelmingly positive, including over 1 150 past and present IFD students, 400 South African students and almost 40 UCT stakeholders. Contextual Analysis UCT has been at the forefront of the national trend of welcoming increasing numbers of IFD students over the last decade. IFD enrollment at UCT has grown steadily from 2 254 IFD students in 2001, to 4 764 in 2006, after which caps limiting the number of IFD students were introduced, to ensure that local students were not excluded as result of IFD intake, and to ensure sustained delivery of services. In 2010, UCT welcomed 3 658 IFD students to its campus. In line with the consolidation of IFD enrollment, UCT introduced its first formal Internationalisation Policy in 2006, which sought to internationalise UCT research and curriculum, maintain reasonable numbers of IFD students in UCT classrooms, and promote an institutional culture that embraces diversity. UCT‟s Strategic Plan for 2010-2014 develops on these themes, with a core emphasis on internationalisation through an Afropolitan lens, and a vision of „Internationalisation at Home‟ (I@H). Therefore, IFD students are central to UCT‟s strategic policy and goals for the present and future. IAPO, under this internationalisation mandate, is tasked with operational implementation of this vision, and has a range of responsibilities related to the administration and support of IFD students. The contextual analysis chapter presents the history of internationalisation at UCT, presents the strategic role of IFD students at UCT, and analyses organisational responsibility for IFD students. International Case Studies Five international case studies of universities hosting IFD students in the United States, Australia, Malaysia, Ghana and South Africa were analysed in order to identify trends in IFD enrollment and services, and to determine key lessons for UCT and the IFD unit within IAPO. The findings in the case studies point to the importance of adequate support services to facilitate the integration of IFD students into all aspects of life Mthente Research and Consulting Services (Pty) Ltd, February 2011 3 on campus, and the social challenges involved in this process. For example, at the University of Witwatersrand, recent research suggests ways that its internationalisation policy could be translated into a more transformed, internationalised social environment on campus (a central aim of Internationalisation at Home). Other key lessons emerging from the case studies are as follows: The implementation of internationalisation policies requires strong leadership, strategic funding, and clear structures for management and administration of programmes derived from this policy. Different universities use different models to deliver administrative and support services for IFD students. Whether centralised or decentralised, the model needs to ensure efficiency of administration and approachability of support staff, and to ensure that a single international unit is not overburdened and forced to neglect social integration initiatives. Internationalisation at Home policies need to be implemented through practical, innovative and cost-effective programmes, which facilitate the integration of IFD students with local students, and promote the value of IFD students to the university at large. University offices and departments, in particular the international office, need to have sufficient capacity to deliver these services and programmes. The Impact and Value of IFD students at UCT The qualitative and quantitative research results indicate that the overall impact and value of IFD students at UCT is extremely positive and of high value to the university, despite the fact that some IFD students desire improvements with the services offered by UCT. The impact and value of IFD enrollment at UCT can be summarised as follows: The academic impact for IFD students is extensive, with IFD students reporting high levels of satisfaction with academic services at UCT. Local students also report positive impacts on their learning process from having IFD students in the classroom, and faculties report positive impact on course curricula and research. IFD postgraduates in particular contribute towards the internationalisation of classrooms, curricula innovation and research; with a focus on Africa. Mthente Research and Consulting Services (Pty) Ltd, February 2011 4 The presence of IFD students, mixing with local students, is of immense social and intercultural value, as the majority of IFD and local students form friendships with each other, through which they can exchange perspectives and ideas, and grow as individuals. However, instances of discrimination and challenges in settling into some of the complex social dynamics of South Africa represent a struggle for some IFD students. IFD students make valuable financial contributions to UCT‟s faculties and the institution as a whole, which amounted to R52.9 million (in tuition fees, excluding indirect value through research grants and income) in 2010. In addition to this, surrounding communities benefit from the estimated R117.7 million spent by IFD students each year on commercial spending and living expenses (excluding rent). IFD students contribute hugely to the realisation of key strategic goals of UCT, including its desire to become an „Afropolitan‟ hub on the continent, and to its vision of Internationalisation at Home. However, some challenges arise with regard to the extent to which IFD enrollment can contribute to the transformation agenda, and these need to be carefully monitored and balanced to ensure that internationalisation and transformation objectives balance and complement each other. Satisfaction Levels and Key Action Areas In order to ensure that UCT‟s services are meeting the needs of IFD students so that the impact and value of IFD students is sustained, the study assessed IFD students‟ perceptions and expectations of UCT and its services. Some of the key findings included the following: UCT‟s reputation as an institution with high quality teaching and research, as well as course choice and subject area, are the main reasons IFD students‟ choose UCT, followed by the lower cost of UCT in comparison to universities in the northern hemisphere, the relative safety and beauty of Cape Town, and the hope of better work prospects after graduating with a UCT degree. IFD students‟ main concerns before arrival (some of which also featured as draw factors) relate to safety, cost, accommodation and discrimination. Regarding service delivery, IFD students are moderately satisfied with IAPO and UCT service delivery, registering a range of complaints around administration and a lack of support services for housing, inadequate funding/scholarship and assistance with study permits. Based
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