Internationalization Strategy

Internationalization Strategy Phase II | International programs

In 1990, the Mount Royal Office of International Education was formally established following market research undertaken from 1989-1990. This marked the beginning of the implementation of Phase I (1990-2000) of the International Education Strategy. In accordance with the institution's development plan at that time, the Office of International Education was placed within the newly established administrative unit of Extension Services, housed at the new City Centre Campus. The Office was given a mandate to operate on a revenue-generating basis, with no support to be provided from base operating funds.

During Phase I, International Education operated within a set of guiding principles which encouraged the enrichment of the Mount Royal educational experience through:

creation of opportunities for Mount Royal faculty, staff and administrators to participate in international projects that provided professional development and renewal;
creation of opportunities for Mount Royal students to participate in international activities and learning experiences;
improved access to Mount Royal for international students; and
contribution to the socio-economic development of the local, national and international community.

These guiding principles were developed in accordance with the strategies for internationalization presented by Canada's leading researcher in the area, Jane Knight, in her CBIE Research Paper entitled "Internationalization: Elements and Checkpoints" (1994). Over the initial 10-year period of Phase I, the Office of International Education systematically developed a successful range of international programs and services which were recognized nationally with the Association of Canadian Community Colleges (ACCC) Internationalization Excellence Award in 1995.

Notwithstanding Mount Royal's accomplishments during this period, an internal assessment conducted in 2000 indicated that internationalization had not yet truly become part of the Institution's core activity: teaching and learning. For that reason, Mount Royal committed to prepare a strategy for a second phase of internationalization (2001-2010), which would strive to integrate international programs and activities into mainstream campus life, including teaching and learning, research activities and the delivery of student services.

It is within this context that the Mount Royal Internationalization Strategy: Phase II (2001-2010) was framed. The strategy, while adjusted internally on an annual basis through a formal planning process from 2001-2005, has, as of July 2005, been officially updated for the period 2005-2010.

The successful implementation of Mount Royal's second of internationalization has already made an important contribution to achieving the vision of being recognized as Canada’s leading undergraduate institutions. It is anticipated the updated plan for 2005-2010 will continue to guide Mount Royal in achieving its long-term goal for internationalization. There are six key strategies that comprise Phase II of the Internationalization Strategy.

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