The Global Classes program: an internationalization in higher education practice

Abstract

Internationalization in higher education, as well as its Internationalization at Home programs, is growing daily. To provide more global education for its students, academic subjects are offered in other languages, preparing them for mobility and multicultural integration within educational institutions. The Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná, in Brazil, has established the Global Classes Program, which involves various agents, including students, professors, language monitors, and administrative staff, the latter being the focus of this study. This research study aims to find out whether the administrative team involved in the university’s internationalization process is aligned with the objectives of the Program, understanding their important role in the process of planning, implementing, and evaluating language policies within universities. To this end, data was collected through an online questionnaire applied to the administrative team, a review of the university documents, and the literature on the subject. From the data collection, it was possible to observe the profile of the administrative sector and their perceptions of the program through the answers obtained. The administrative team is optimistic about the Program and its success, which has resulted in the institutionalization of the Global Classes.