Author Description

This report presents a review and analysis of research on the internationalization of vocational education and training (VET) and provides an assessment of other research that needs to be conducted in this area. Globalization is the integration of economies worldwide through trade, trade agreements, finance, information networks, and movement of people and knowledge between nations. Internationalization represents those same activities between two or more nations. Reasons for internationalization of VET include the following: VET institutions have had success in developing the inbound student market; VET has had success in offering offshore training and developing offshore campuses; each state in Australia has developed an international marketing function for VET; and clear international commercial opportunities for VET exist. Internationalization is also about ensuring that Australian VET students have the opportunity to learn and experience cross-national and cross-cultural understanding and skills to enable effective participation in an increasingly globalized world. Use of increasingly available modern interactive and noninteractive communications technologies to deliver VET services across distances and cultures is attractive. An understanding of cultural variation is important for effective business and training relationship development. Working successfully offshore requires establishment of relationships, considerable support from the home institution, and selection of appropriate personnel. Staff development requires understanding the culture to be visited and training in general cultural awareness. Internationalizing Australian VET campuses requires a whole-institution approach, enhanced student opportunity for international understanding and experience, and student support services. (Contains 120 references.) (YLB)