International Connections: Personal Stories and Cultural Contexts in University Partnerships from China and Beyond

Abstract

<p>Around the world, strategic leaders within universities are looking to extend their organizational reach and infl uence, both as a business goal and for attributions of prestige (Brown 2013). Universities and academics are also under increasing pressure from comparisons such as the Times Higher international league tables, Quacquarelli Symonds comparisons and the Shanghai Jiao Tong University World University Rankings (Turner 2008). A growing number of national ministries of higher education are adopting explicit policies to develop 'world-class' universities and many governments are providing funding to support activities with this goal.</p>