UNCOFIN

Higher education institutions in South-East Asia were seeking to increase and promote internationalisation and international partnerships. However, many rural and non-capital based institutions lacked some basic infrastructure and human resource capital to do so.
The UNCOFIN project aim was to:
• Analyse successful case studies of European and ASEAN University IROs.
• Develop a know-how exchange strategy.
• Propose alternatives and management improvement measures.
• Establish an exchange methodology to facilitate future exchanges.
• Disseminate the results achieved within the framework of the project.
It was considered in the project that the current model of internationalisation of EU partners was exploitable and transferable, taking into account local adaptations. An analysis phase generated know-how on current contexts, whilst an infrastructure development plan set in motion the creation of International Relations Offices which were not currently in existence or operational. As a result of the project, many institutions in UNCOFIN set up their own IRO, bringing in students from other world regions. Likewise, training provided the necessary HR capacity to take on the IRO role, as well as promote internal dialogue at institutional level to bring internationalisation to the forefront of the strategic priorities.