Communication Matters Developing a Strategic Communication Plan for Promoting Internationalization and Global Learning within an Institution

Implementing internationalization is, at its core, a matter of communication. This paper explores the communication that is needed to develop and implement a comprehensive, contextually-specific internationalization plan. Specifically, it utilizes a model of strategic communication planning to illustrate the communicative processes an institution could employ in its efforts towards institutionalization. The common elements of a Strategic Communication Plan (SCP) are an intentional assessment and integration of goals, context, audiences, and messages. This paper explores each of these elements within the context of internationalizing education. Specific examples are provided to illustrate the SCP in action; however, the goal is not to provide a model of what internationalization should look like but rather to provide a tool that can be utilized to guide development of an internationalization strategy tailored to the needs and resources of colleges or universities at the local level.