Internationalisation strategy implemented through faculty exchange: strategic entrepreneurship in a 'new' UK university. (2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pearce, Alison
• Is Part Of: International journal of business innovation and research. Volume 10:Number 1(2016)
• Page Start: 43
• Page End: 64
• Publication Date: 2016
• Subjects: internationalisation strategy -- faculty exchange -- staff exchange -- strategy execution -- strategic entrepreneurship -- corporate entrepreneurship -- staff mobility -- faculty mobility -- higher education -- UK universities -- United Kingdom -- action research -- Europe -- strategic management; Management science -- Research -- Periodicals; Industrial management -- Technological innovations -- Periodicals; Industrial management -- Research -- Periodicals; 658.0072
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1751-0252

Abstract

The promotion of international staff mobility is a founding principle of the Bologna Process; creation of a converged system of European higher education (HE). Many UK universities are developing internationalisation strategies including staff exchange. Meanwhile, failure to execute strategy is acknowledged as a problem in organisational performance. Using a first-, second and third-person insider action research approach, six chronological cycles of AR were enacted over 28 months to implement a staff exchange between universities in Europe. Concepts from literature in three domains - entrepreneurship in HE, globalisation of HE and execution through strategic entrepreneurship - are combined with the research analysis to propose that 'strategic entrepreneurs' can execute the riskier elements of an internationalisation strategy, such as staff exchange. This work broadens AR from education into strategic management. It goes beyond the well-intentioned yet vague statements involving the 'encouragement' of mobility to propose a method of execution through strategic entrepreneurship.