The structure of information in the internationalization processes of universities

Abstract

In this work we were interested in the relation between internationalization of universities and the information demands associated with it. The internationalization process of universities is accompanied by a process of dissemination of information, which fulfills several purposes. The aim of this work was to evaluate, in a systematic way, the international indicators and rankings that are proposed in the literature and that are used by the higher education institutions (HEI), and to propose an information model based on that analysis. The research methodology was based on a literature review, documental analysis, informal interviews and observation of events related to internationalization of universities. An exercise of compilation, analysis and synthesis of indicators of the internationalization process of universities resulted in the proposal of a structure of information that includes the most common used indicators, and that can be related to the various perspectives that drive the internationalization process. The structure can be used to guide the process of construction of models of information by universities, particularly in the process of design of web pages, which is nowadays a preferred vehicle of information dissemination from the part of the universities and of information gathering from the part of entities interested in universities.