The Knowledge Without Borders Network (KWBN) officially opened for business following the release of its new website and a soft launch at the Observatory on Borderless Higher Education's Global Forum in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday 24th April.
The Network aims to connect and promote institutional knowledge, providing a forum for reflection on ‘The Nottingham Experience’ whilst engaging with researchers and practitioners worldwide in key areas such as organisational strategy, educational leadership, pedagogy and curriculum, and intercultural communication.
Professor Christine Ennew, Pro-Vice Chancellor for Internationalisation at The University of Nottingham and Joint Coordinator of KWBN said: "Throughout its history The University of Nottingham has always been at the forefront of internationalisation in higher education. We were the first UK university to establish overseas campuses in Malaysia in 1999 and Ningbo China in 2006, and in 2009 we launched ‘Knowledge Without Borders’ a pioneering new internationalisation strategy.
"Establishing a collaborative network that brings together key players, dedicated to shaping thinking around transnational higher education and internationalisation, and influencing global policy is a natural development."
"The Network will act as an important focal point for knowledge and expertise providing a wide range of activities and resources to enable university managers, academics and other professionals to gain a better understanding of key issues such as student experience and expectations of internationalisation; global marketing and recruitment strategies; and staff/staff and staff/student cross-cultural communication in internationalised learning and teaching environments."
KWBN will organise and support an exciting range of initiatives, activities and events including international seminars and conferences; networking and active exchange programmes for staff and students; sponsorship of fellowships and secondment opportunities; establishing a virtual resource centre; and providing executive training and consultancy.
Dr Sean Matthews, Joint Coordinator of the Network at The University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus said: "I believe the Network will drive the research, practice and policy agenda in the globalisation of universities and transnational higher education and so I am delighted that it is physically based in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences here at the University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus. This is a recognition of Malaysia’s ambition to become an international higher education hub and was strongly reinforced by the recent visit of the British and Malaysian Prime Ministers to the campus."
Posted on 24th April 2012