Educational Products and Services Offered Abroad by Canadian Universities: An AUCC Survey

1. Educational Products and Services Offered Abroad by Canadian Universities: An AUCC Survey Robert White International Relations AUCC

2. The Knowledge Exports Survey – Why Engage Canadian Universities • AUCC’s 2006-07 survey on internationalization at Canadian universities showed that Canadian university engagement in this sector is a growing activity. • Limited statistical and anecdotal information is available regarding Canadian university engagement in delivering educational programs and services abroad. • Direct competition from Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom and the United States requires a concerted internationalization strategy • To further support efforts to market Canadian post-secondary education, DFAIT engaged AUCC and ACCC to gather information from their member institutions on educational programs and services offered abroad to students living outside of Canada during the 2007-08 academic year.

3. AUCC Knowledge Exports Survey – Methodology AUCC/ACCC/DFAIT Methodology • Work with the ACCC and DFAIT to launch the survey and compile the inventory. • Convene an ad-hoc advisory committee of AUCC and ACCC reps & members to guide/test questionnaire. • Finalize & launch questionnaires to AUCC members. • Compile a database of categories and types of programs offered abroad, supporting institutional infrastructure and partnership arrangements. • Undertake a review and summary of Canadian and non-Canadian directories of post secondary offshore programs delivery to inform survey development.

4. Survey - Issues and Challenges • Results represent only a portion of activities and can serve as the beginning of an inventory • Information regarding education programs & services delivered abroad is typically not centrally located at Canadian universities • It is critical to establish a easy-use mechanism to regularly update information. • Further data collection and analysis through a second phase of analysis is necessary

5. Knowledge Exports by the Numbers – Institutional Responses 2008 Knowledge Exports Survey –  • 54 AUCC member institutions (58%) responded to the survey • 39 AUCC member institutions (72%) indicated offering some form of educational programs and services abroad   • Just over two-thirds of respondents (68%) indicated having a high to medium level of interest in designing and delivering education courses and training programs for non-Canadian markets • A higher proportion of respondents (81%) expect that future interest will be high or medium 2006 – 2007 Internationalization Survey – Knowledge Exports • AUCC’s 2006-07 survey supports a similar finding with 75% of respondents confirming delivery of education and training programs outside of Canada

6. AUCC Survey - Key Trends and Observations • Findings from the 2008 survey indicate that Canadian universities are actively delivering educational programs and services overseas and employing rigorous quality assurance policies abroad. • Canadian university engagement in providing educational programs and services abroad is not confined to particular sizes or types of universities. • The delivery of educational programs abroad is largely facilitated through institutional partnerships. • Participants reported education programs & services in 41 countries • China remains Canadian universities’ largest market for the provision of educational programs and services overseas. India ranks 2nd

7. Knowledge Exports by the Numbers – Top Fields of Study Participants reported the top fields of study for overseas education program delivery as follows: • Business • Management & Computer Science/Information Technology • Agriculture/Food Sciences • Engineering • Education

8. Knowledge Exports by the Numbers – Economic Impact Total Professional Staff Dedicated to Delivery of Education Abroad Of the participating Canadian universities, 42 institutions reported an average of 3 professional staffat each institution dedicated to delivery of education abroad Total Tuition Generated from Students Abroad • A total of 16 institutions reported student numbers and tuition for 32 programs generated $29.72 million in tuition in 2007-08 • A total of 9 institutions indicated that students numbers and tuition for 14 services generated $1.62 million in tuition revenue • Total tuition revenue reported (excluding distance education) is $31.34 million

9. Knowledge Exports by the Numbers – Institutions & Infrastructure Institutional Arrangements and Partnerships Canadian universities reported institutional arrangements to deliver programs: • Double award: 27 institutional arrangements • Twinning/articulation: 26 institutional arrangements • Franchise/accreditation: 21 institutional arrangements • Joint award: 3 institutional arrangements Method of Delivery • Participants noted that of delivery options available, on-site program delivery in the host institution is preferred. The results are as follows: • On-site in host (foreign) institution - (83.5%) • Distance - (2%) • Combination of distance + on site - (11%) • At Canadian institution branch campus - (3.5%)

10. Quality Assurance Assuring the quality of educational programs offered abroad by Canadian universities: 100% follow requirements of the home (Canadian) institution’s general policies and practices In addition, 65% have specific mechanisms or procedures guiding the provision of education abroad In addition, 37% follow specific mechanisms or procedures of relevant professional bodies (ex: Canadian Engineering Accredition Board)