'Levelling the International Playing Field: A New Global Regionalism for Sustainable Partnerships, Student Mobility and Open and Distance Learning'

About the 2011 Global Forum . . .

The 2011 Global Forum on Cross-Border Higher Education is set to bring together global leaders from higher education, government, and business to engage in strategic policy discussions about the major issues, policies, and practices facing borderless higher education.

The theme for the 2011 Global Forum, ‘Levelling the International Playing Field:  A New Global Regionalism for Sustainable Partnerships, Student Mobility and Open and Distance Learning’, will address various dimensions of cross-border higher education and the political, cultural, social, economic and educational impacts on the host country and region.

Organised by The Observatory on Borderless Higher Education in collaboration with Athabasca University, the 2011 Global Forum is taking place with the support of:

• Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC);
• Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU);
• The British Council;
• Commonwealth of Learning (COL);
• European Distance and eLearning Network (EDEN);
• Institute of International Education (IIE);
• International Association of Universities (IAU);
• IDP Education;
• Laureate Education;
• Pearson eCollege;
• Polycom, Inc.;
• UNESCO; and
• United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA).

The 2011 Global Forum will examine four primary subthemes that are transforming borderless higher education.  These include:

A. New Global Regionalism

The emergence of regional higher education networks for building partnerships, facilitating interregional student mobility, and fostering greater awareness and connections of common cultural, social, language, and heritage across the region.

B. The Student Experience

The services that enhance the holistic student experience for international students and successful models for providing these services. How are issues of culture, language and social 'norms' of international students addressed in curriculum and assessment?

C. Open and Distance Learning

Global applications of open and distance learning systems in borderless higher education at the regional and global levels. Moreover, the use of ODL delivery systems to provide HE access to underserved student populations, working adults, and geographically isolated rural communities and cultures.

D. International Quality Assurance

The shifting and changing landscape of quality assurance and assessment models for ensuring quality in borderless higher education programmes. Will the challenging fiscal environment for higher education be a catalyst for more diploma mill providers and low-quality providers attempting to take advantage of this depressed market?

Venue . . .

The 2011 Global Forum will be held in Banff, Alberta, Canada.  This scenic locale is situated in the heart of the Canadian Rockies and offers the perfect retreat for a major educational forum.  This majestic setting provides a range of activities ranging from skiing and hiking to golfing and sightseeing amid some of the most beautiful natural beauty in the world.  There are a variety of social and cultural venues available for visitors.  Banff is an approximately 90-minute drive east of Calgary's international airport.

Who should attend . . .  

• Senior leadership and management staff (e.g., Presidents, Pro Vice-Chancellors, Rectors, Provosts, public relations Vice Presidents, Finance Officers, etc.) at universities planning or currently engaged in leading transnational higher education programmes;
• Representatives from quality assurance agencies and ministries of education with oversight responsibilities for cross-border higher education, accreditation, qualification frameworks, and assessment standards;
• Deans, Directors and department faculty chairpersons with academic programme oversight responsibilities for potential cross-border delivery;
• Student and academic support professionals with responsibilities for providing services to international students and facult;
• Open and distance learning Directors, Managers, instructional designers, evaluation specialists, and marketing professionals; and
  
• Corporate leaders who are planning and/or are currently partnering with universities in the delivery of international programmes.

Benefits for delegates . . .

The 2011 Global Forum will provide delegates with a sound understanding and knowledge of transnational higher education practice and policy. This includes:

• Strategies for building consensus among campus faculty and administrators for international programme delivery;
• Aligning cross-border initiatives with institutional mission, vision and values;
• Key planning steps in developing a transnational higher education programme;
• Quality assurance and assessment processes necessary for programme delivery;
• Contractual and regulatory requirements for cross-border higher education;
• Cost scenarios for developing and implementing transnational higher education programmes;
• Marketing, public relations, and cultural obligations for delivering higher education across international borders;
• Branch campus vs. distance learning vs. hybrid models of delivery;
• Best practices from successful institutions to apply at your own institution; and
  
• Development of an international network of professional colleagues from among the delegates