The EDUCAUSE Approach to Globalization and Internationalization

Mission:

The mission of EDUCAUSE is to advance higher education by promoting the intelligent use of information technology.

Such a mission requires EDUCAUSE to provide leadership. However, leadership is more than providing information or being visible; equally important is playing an active role in fostering and nurturing a global web of collaboration and mutual understanding in matters related to promoting higher education through information technology. Increasingly, this leadership role places a responsibility on EDUCAUSE to move beyond its geographic origins to share information more broadly and participate in conversations worldwide.

EDUCAUSE is an organization that:

• is U.S.-based and welcomes international participation
• is committed to a leadership agenda defined by sharing and collaboration, not individual action
• helps members develop an international perspective
• collaborates with its international counterparts
• serves as a conduit for information about world-wide developments in higher education
• links members, as requested, to similar international groups

To achieve the vision, EDUCAUSE must:

• develop global expertise and content
• connect with others and establish strong bi-directional relationships
• convene discussions with relevant groups and organizations outside the United States
• adhere to clearly articulated principles

Principles:

EDUCAUSE has developed the following set of principles to facilitate discussion and clarify expectations within the organization, with international members, and with other organizations. They do not try to identify everything that EDUCAUSE can or will do internationally; however, they identify actions that EDUCAUSE should pursue to prepare the organizational agenda for globalization and service to international and domestic members alike.

1. Environment: EDUCAUSE realizes that the higher education community, as with many other societal segments, is increasingly a set of interdependent relationships that are global in nature, and to achieve its mission, EDUCAUSE must work in collaboration with colleges and universities worldwide.
2. Scope: The EDUCAUSE mission is to foster the intelligent use of information technology to advance higher education. This commitment is not limited to any geographic region, and increasingly needs to draw upon expertise and advances throughout the world.
3. Respect: EDUCAUSE shall be guided by a strong commitment to respect and recognize cultural differences.
4. Noncompetition: EDUCAUSE will work as a partner to increase a global perspective within EDUCAUSE, not intentionally expanding into areas that compete with other international entities.
5. Localization: EDUCAUSE believes in the adage "think globally, act locally." EDUCAUSE should actively collaborate and facilitate the efforts of others, rather than expanding into international markets as a direct provider of services and programs.
6. Collaboration: EDUCAUSE recognizes IT use and advancements occur globally, and that it should increase efforts to facilitate the bidirectional sharing of information and collaboration on IT issues.
7. Information exchange: EDUCAUSE should actively pursue and seek input about international advances, drawing upon this expertise and experience, and disseminate it to the entire EDUCAUSE membership.

Learn more about international membership in EDUCAUSE.