Internationalization lacking as criteria for faculty tenure and promotion

A study by the American Council on Education reported that references to internationalization in faculty tenure and promotion criteria don't match the goals related to internationalization of many universities. While the majority (52%) of institutions espouse internationalization as a goal, explicit attention to internationalization in faculty tenure and promotion decisions is much lower (8%). A further disconnect was evident in the prevalence of internationalization as a criteria for research and service but not for teaching, again contradicting many university's reported focus on enhancing student learning related to internationalization.

These finding are important in identifying gaps in the reward systems that support internationalization. As university leaders begin to understand that internationalization needs to be a comprehensive and integrated priority, changes in tenure and promotion criteria will hopefully follow.