Toward a strategic framework for internationalization: evidence from North Eastern Mindanao State University

Abstract

This study examined the institutional practices and level of implementation of internationalization at North Eastern Mindanao State University (NEMSU), a regional state university in the Philippines. Using a quantitative descriptive–correlational design, data were collected from 213 faculty members and administrators through a validated survey instrument. Results show that participation in international conferences (M=3.58) and benchmarking experiences (M=2.91) are the most developed internationalization practices, while student mobility remains the least implemented (M=1.94). Correlation analysis indicates that benchmarking demonstrated strong statistical associations with implementation outcomes in instruction (r=0.39), governance and leadership (r=0.58), institutional partnerships (r=0.61), and quality assurance (r=0.62). These findings suggest that institutional learning through benchmarking is more closely aligned with internationalization implementation than mobility-based practices in resource-constrained regional universities. The study provides empirical evidence for developing a context-responsive internationalization framework for state universities and colleges (SUCs). However, the findings should be interpreted cautiously due to the use of self-reported data and the cross-sectional design of the study.