Provost Appoints Steering Committee to draft a new Strategic Internationalization Plan
A new steering committee, commissioned by the provost and vice-president (academic), Dr. David Wardlaw, will lead consultations for the development of a Strategic Internationalization Plan. The steering committee and the process for creating the plan were approved by the Vice-Presidents Council at a meeting on May 26, 2014.
The Strategic Internationalization Plan will rely on findings from the Internationalization White Paper, released last February, as well as relevant feedback and the existing inventory of international activities and agreements. The plan will cover all areas related to international programming and activities, on all campuses. The three university frameworks: research, teaching and learning, and public engagement will be used to inform the Strategic Internationalization Plan as well as the recently approved Enrolment Plan 2020 and Strategic Research Intensity Plan.
“To move forward effectively on an international level as an institution, we need a formalized international strategy and framework to support decisions and direction,” explained Dr. Wardlaw. “We need to create a shared understanding of what is encompassed by 'internationalization' and to develop our goals in this area.”
Dr. Wardlaw has appointed Dr. Richard Marceau, vice-president (research) to chair the steering committee. He will be joined by Dr. Noreen Golfman, dean, school of graduate studies; Dr. Cecilia Reynolds, deputy provost (students) and associate vice-president academic (undergraduate) and Dr. Ray Gosine, associate vice-president (research).
“The Strategic Internationalization Plan will provide greater cohesion to Memorial University’s already significant investments in internationalization, while developing new and exciting opportunities,” said Dr. Richard Marceau, vice-president (research).
“The approval and development of the steering committee is the first step in constructing a plan that will support Memorial University’s vision of being recognized as one of Canada’s most distinguished universities through internationalization.”
The Steering Committee will begin its work by consulting with leaders of academic and administrative units and other stakeholder groups in June in order to prepare a draft of the Strategic Internalization Plan by mid-July. Following this, extensive consultations will take place including the university’s formal advisory and decision-making bodies, and the entire university community. The objective is to submit the new Strategic Internationalization Plan for approval to Senate and the Board of Regents by year’s end.