This week’s reading discussed current policies and the future of international higher education. The article spoke about many aspects we have already discussed in class regarding student mobility and policy actors. In particular, what I found most interesting was the image chart on page eleven. The image chart shows outside influences towards U.S Higher Education Internationalization- Related Policies and Programs. I liked this description because it triggered to think which of these were most influential. I also thought about institutional finance and how this can bridge a gap between student mobility (inbound-outbound) and funding (scholarships). In the midst of trying to find a purpose or reflection to this reading, I concluded that institutions are/should be the most influential actors. I am not sure if anyone agrees, however, my train of throughout comes from noticing how the arrows in this image chart do not interconnect with each actor.

The Influence of Campus Internationalization on Local Communities by William P. Kiehl is a great example to determine how internationalization efforts on campus can affect communities. Kiehl (2007) found influences from campus internationalization among small colleges in small communities, which have a large socio-political importance (Kiehl, 2007). Kiehl (2007) states that “too little attention has been paid to how internationalization plays out in the local community” and that “there is too little visibility for international students in the community”. Kiehl (2007) follows this statement by stated, “If colleges make the extra effort to engage the community in campus internationalization there are real rewards for both the campus and the community”. Because of this statement, I assume Kiehl will agree that the most influential actors can be the institution and their community. As Kiehl (2007) mentioned in his dissertation, colleges need to make the extra effort to engage the community in campus internationalization. My thoughts on readings and visa programs also relate to this because immigration laws. Colleges and university should see themselves as social advocates. It is important to look at all students’ especially non-native students. In order for internationalization to work institutions are to influence the community, the community must influence the state and states must come together to influence the government and policy. (http://repository.upenn.edu/dissertations/AAI3255869/)