From a podcast interview with Cheryl Matherly, Vice President and Vice Provost for International Affairs at Lehigh University

“In our university, we recognize that if we do not focus on international student recruitment and the quality of the international student experience regarding their recruitment, retention, and ultimate success, we cannot achieve the aspirations outlined in this plan for tripling graduate enrollment.”

Isolating International Education: A Common Pitfall

When universities include international education in their strategic plans, it often appears as an isolated element. Cheryl observes that it typically shows up as a distinct pillar, which limits its impact. Treating international initiatives as separate objectives can lead to their marginalization, making them less integrated into the institution's daily operations and core values.

Cheryl highlights the concern regarding the lack of integration of international education within most universities' strategic plans. This compartmentalized approach restricts the potential benefits and relevance of global initiatives, preventing them from becoming a fundamental aspect of the educational experience and institutional identity.

Horizontal Integration: A Blueprint for Success

Lehigh University exemplifies the effective integration of international education into its strategic framework by interlinking international goals with all aspects of its strategic initiatives, rather than treating them as a standalone objective. Cheryl highlights that during the development of the university's strategic plan, the Vice President for strategy worked collaboratively, engaging both vertically and horizontally. This approach allows international priorities to be woven into various thematic areas, ensuring that global initiatives influence strategic directions such as research, academic programs, student recruitment, and diversity efforts.

By embedding international goals throughout the institution, Lehigh enhances coherence and fosters a global perspective across all university priorities. Cheryl emphasizes the importance of ensuring that international efforts are represented and connected in the broader strategic landscape. This horizontal integration not only reinforces the significance of international education but also aligns it with the university's overarching mission, creating a more inclusive and globally engaged educational environment.

The Broader Implications and Potential Impacts

Cheryl emphasizes the importance of integrating international education at Lehigh University to achieve broader institutional goals. A significant aim in their strategic plan is to triple graduate enrollment. She highlights the direct relationship between international strategies and this objective, stating that without focusing on international student recruitment and the quality of their experiences, the university cannot meet its aspirations for enrollment expansion.

Cheryl asserts that international efforts should not function as standalone objectives but as essential components of larger institutional goals. This holistic approach not only supports specific targets, like increasing graduate enrollment but also enhances research productivity and academic excellence. By aligning international initiatives with key strategic ambitions, Lehigh University fosters a meaningful ripple effect, ensuring these efforts contribute significantly to the institution's overarching vision.

Conclusion

Lehigh University’s approach offers a template for integrating international education into strategic plans effectively, avoiding common pitfalls, and leveraging horizontal integration. This method ensures that international goals are woven into the fabric of the university, contributing to broader institutional achievements and advancing the university’s global stature.

Cheryl Matherly’s insight highlights Lehigh University’s effective approach to integrating international education into strategic plans, which avoids common pitfalls and emphasizes horizontal integration. This method ensures that international goals are embedded within the university's framework, contributing to its overall achievements and enhancing its global reputation. By adopting this holistic model, universities can incorporate international perspectives across all strategic objectives, thereby strengthening global partnerships, academic excellence, and long-term goals in research and student success.

To catch the full interview with Cheryl, CLICK HERE.