Concept for Exporting Learning Environments

Abstract

There is a risen national interest in Finnish education exports. Finnish universities are still developing their education export products and services. Exportation of learning environments is a one instrument that can be used to export education into a transnational environment. There is not a service that enables a Finnish higher education institution to outsource its property acquisition process abroad. Target company has committed through a shareholders’ agreement to provide services for universities in facility matters also abroad. The objective of the study is to develop a concept for the target company that describes a process for learning environment exportation from their viewpoint. Literary survey accumulates information on universities education export models and what are the links between a company’s strategy, business models and processes. Interviews with the target company chart out the target company’s process model in Namibia and what is their future visions and strategy concerning education exports. Interviews with Finnish education export companies and universities build an understanding on different existing education export products and services and how their education exportation was seen in the future. Interviews are also used to gather information on the differences between operating in Namibia compared to Finland. Education exports are a broad concept that can be defined as businesses that bring revenue from education, education systems or transportation of knowledge or expertise in a form of a product or a service from one country to another. The Thesis focuses on transnational education exports where education and research activities across national boundaries. International branch campus (IBC) is a model where an entity that is owned, at least in part, by a foreign higher education provider and that provides an entire academic program transnationally. A company can improve its activities through a strategy and it can become aware of the needed changes in time in a changing operational environment. International strategies can be used to guide organization’s operations outside of its country of origin. Business models stem from a company’s strategy and for each different business model there should be a specific process in place. This ensures operational effectiveness. The produced model illustrates the relation between education exporter’s and consultant’s, who acquires a property from transnational environment, strategies. The produced process for exporting learning environment is a part in establishing an international branch campus and it consists of three phases: preliminary survey phase, tenancy phase and renovation phase. Activities and connections between each phase are portrayed in a cross-functional flowchart. Operational instructions give more detailed description from each of the phases. Overall, produced model can be used as framework for the target company’s future projects. Future research should be conducted on implementation and maintenance phase. In addition, target company’s current business model does not support optimally learning environment exportation so this is another research opportunity in the future.