Institutional Strategies For Internationalization At Different Types Of Universities In The Netherlands

Institutional strategies for internationalization are significant approaches to pushing internationalization towards organizational and sustainable development. At present, domestic literature on institutional strategies for internationalization is revolved around developed countries like America, England, France, German, Australia and Japan while little research is focused on Netherlands. The institutions studied in the literature are concentrated on research universities and domestic local universities whilst fewer studies are paid attention to higher professional institutions. Therefore, this study will not only expand the area of countries studied on internationalization but also enrich the cases of strategies for institutional internationalization. Meanwhile, it will provide valuable experience for our different types of institutions to draw on.This study aims to develop an understanding of the strategies for internationalization at different types of universities in the Netherlands by studing how Leiden University and The Hague University of Applied Sciences integrate internationalization into institutional objective, teaching, research and social service. To achieve the stated purpose of the study, two research questions are addressed:1. What are the strategic rationales and objectives for internationalization at different types of universities in the Netherlands? Are there any commonalities or differences? Why?2. What are the detailed strategies for internationalization at different types of umversities in the Netherlands? Are there any commonalities or differences? Why?The evidence is gathered through electronic documents like websites and interviews mainly via email. Each institution is designed to portray upon an analysis of three dimensions:rationales and objectives, programmatic strategies and organizational strategies. Finally, four main findings are concluded:1. Institutional strategies for internationalization at different types of universities in the Netherlands are linked to their institutional types and developmental orientation. Leiden University, an academic university, has integrated research orientation into its internationalization strategies while The Hague University of applied sciences, a higher professional institution, has integrated professional orientation into its internationalization strategies.2. Resources possessed by different types of universities have a critical influence on universities’ internationalization strategies. Research universities with its academic orientation may have a comparative advantage in research resources over teaching resources whilst universities of applied sciences with its professional orientation may have a comparative advantage in teaching resources over research resources. Therefore, research universities choose "research oriented" strategies for internationalization while universities of applied sciences choose "curriculum oriented" strategies for internationalization.3. Although the strategies for internationalization in teaching, research and social service between Leiden University and The Hague University of Applied Sciences are not the same, international cooperation is their consensus on internalization strategies.4. Different culture will affect how to cooperate internationally between universities. The CHECK-IT presents how the workings of minds between eastern and western people influence the international cooperation.The reflections from main conclusions can be addressed from both practical aspect and theoretical aspect. In practical aspect, our institutions need discriminate themselves on the ground of what kind of resources they possess and then conduct an appropriate internationalization strategy. In theoretical aspect, researchers need expand research dimensions between institutions and individuals like teachers and students to investigate the interaction between the middle and microcosmic Level. Besides, it is also vital to create opportunities for cross-cultural comparative studies for researchers because it will assist our institutions in clearing what experience is more suitable after understanding institutional strategies for internationalization at different types of universities in different cultural contexts.