The Internationalisation of Japanese and German Universities – Institutional Strategies and Operational Processes and Structures
Joint Symposium of the German Rectors' Conference (HRK), the Japanese-German Center Berlin (JDZB) and the University of Cologne
Based on the insights and ideas gained during joint HRK-JDZB-JACUIE conferences on higher education reform in Japan and Germany in Tokyo (2006) and Berlin (2010), the German Rectors' Conference (HRK) and the Japanese-German Center Berlin (JDZB) in cooperation with the University of Cologne aim to further contribute to enhancing cooperation between higher education institutions in Japan and Germany.
The Symposium
In 2011, the German Rectors' Conference coordinated the Japan Weeks at German Universities with the financial support of the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research and as part of the events that commemorated the 150t h anniversary of German-Japanese relations. The Japan Weeks, which were held at 18 universities and universities of applied sciences, successfully contributed to informing German students and researchers about study and research opportunities in Japan and to increasing their awareness of the potential of Japanese-German university cooperation.
In the framework of the Japan Weeks the German Rectors' Conference held an evaluation workshop with the participating 18 German universities which delivered valuable insights into examples of good practice as well as perceived obstacles to and challenges in German-Japanese higher education cooperation. Based on these insights, the symposium aims to address two particularly crucial aspects: the development of institutional internationalisation strategies and the prevailing institutional structures and processes of internationalisation in Germany and Japan.
Presenting examples of good practice and providing a platform for exchange between Japanese and German universities, the symposium discusses how institutional internationalisation strategies can be successfully developed and implemented while involving internal and external stakeholders. Furthermore, it highlights and compares the institutional structures and processes of internationalisation that are common practice in Germany and Japan and explores their impact on Japanese-German higher education cooperation.
In the long run, the symposium aims to trigger an initiative for short-term exchange of non-academic staff of international offices between German and Japanese universities, contributing to an improved mutual understanding and thus enhancing cooperation in education and research.
Results
Die japanischen wie die deutschen Hochschulen treiben mit Nachdruck ihre Internationalisierung voran. Künftig wollen sie nun voneinander lernen, wie die einzelne Hochschule eine maßgeschneiderte Strategie entwickeln kann und welche internen Strukturen den Erfolg am stärksten fördern. Dazu soll ein Austausch der Fachleute aus den Auslandsämtern der Hochschulen organisiert werden. Das ist eines der Ergebnisse eines Symposiums auf Einladung der Hochschulrektorenkonferenz (HRK), des Japanisch-Deutschen Zentrums Berlin (JDZB) und der Universität zu Köln mit rund 100 japanischen und deutschen Teilnehmerinnen und Teilnehmern gestern und heute in Berlin ... read more
Recommendations for internationalization of the Symposium (PDF, engl.)
Universities – as centres of research and teaching – have a central role to play in the development of knowledge societies. They are transnational actors: in all dimensions of their work and activity, universities must perceive of themselves as creative parts of a global higher education community. Only an internationalised university will be able to meet societal expectations, actively shape the globalisation process, and guarantee its own competitiveness. Based on this conviction, university leaders in Japan and Germany are striving towards ... read more
Recommendations in japanese
日独の高等教育機関改革に関する東京（2006）とベルリン（2010）における会議を経た後、ドイツ大学学長会議（HRK）とベルリン日独センター（JDZB）は、ケルン大学の協力を得て、日独両国の高等教育機関交流を強化する目標に向かい引き続き尽力している。... read more
Participants
The event was attended by representatives of the following institutions :
Program
You can find here the program for the event.
