What is CAI?
Comprehensive Assessment of Internationalization, or CAI, is a customized, short-format consulting service designed to help institutions meet their strategic objective in the internationalization area. CAI is accessible, affordable, and founded on years of research in higher education and the best practices that can make or break success in internationalization.
What areas of internationalization does CAI cover?
CAI is focussed on the practical difficulties of implementing, managing, and evaluating an effective and strategic set of internationalization activities. The four key areas of focus each address a common area of gocus for professionals working to improve internationalization: efficacy (which concerns organizational structures, governance, and management), efficiency (which addresses effective recruitment and enrollment, and the fiscal impacts of international students on campus), comprehensiveness (which addresses holistic or comprehensive internationalization, internationalization at home, and other on-campus effects), and risk (financial, reputational, and strategic risk connected to internationalization).
How does CAI work?
CAI is unique with every client, based on the needs and goals of their internationalization process. A typical process is represented in the chart below. After establishing the needs and strategic objectives with the client, HESA conducts an environmental trend review that uses key informant interviews alongside internal and public data to establish environmental context. This could include a review of the competitiveness of internationalization source markets, retention and satisfaction rates for international students, or other data. Second, a risk assessment is conducted that maps institutional exposure to financial, reputational, and strategic risk stemming from internationalization activities. Third, HESA uses this background knowledge to conduct a targeted series of on-site interviews and analysis to build our understanding of institutional factors. Finally, CAI is reported to the client in a clear, actionable report that focuses on practical recommendations and best practices.
“Internationalization has become so vital and so complex that colleges and universities now need critical and constructive external feedback, regardless of how successful or experienced they are. CAI offers an affordable and impartial way for institutions to identify and address risks, obstacles, and opportunities—paving the way for them to meet the internationalization objectives that senior leaders have already set publicly.”
— Alex Usher, President, HESA
“Sheridan benefited greatly from the expertise and insight of our HESA colleagues. Their conclusions were grounded in thoughtful and relevant analyses, and proved particularly helpful for us as we worked with campus partners to secure more support for, and understanding of, internationalization. Not only did we appreciate what they did, we equally appreciated how they did it. Their ability to engage with staff at all levels of the organization showed through in the insights that were liberally used in the consultation report. Their work was more of a partnership than merely an external assessment of who we are.”
— Andrew Ness, Director, International Services, Sheridan College
