Internationalising Higher Education

A challenge facing many higher education institutions worldwide is how to encourage students from different backgrounds to take up international study. At Brunel University, this is the challenge of a web-developer developing web-based information systems for international students. While in the face of the worst recession in decades, countries are increasingly becoming isolationist, staff and student mobility has actually grown considerably over the past two decades. There are still great opportunities to reach out to many more groups that are hard to reach. This poster will discuss the development of Web-based Information Systems for the purpose of developing internationally appealing platforms, in order to encourage continued international student participation here at Brunel University. The Student Services department want to provide continuously better support for students whilst developing dynamic Web-based student services. Understanding how the department develops Web-based Information Systems, manages organisational change, increasing fast paced deadlines and Web-based aesthetics are all important in improving students' mobility for today's and tomorrow's generations. Further identification of sudden or unexpected change within higher educational institution is examined in the study. Understanding this phenomenon can enhance academics, practitioners and the organisations' ability to build applicable Web-based Information Systems to accommodate the demands placed by today's International Students.