A New Zealand expert in international business believes universities are increasingly becoming international entities and therefore should be providing their students with skills that are internationally recognised.

Director of the International Business Program at the University of Otago, New Zealand, Dr David Duval said this new era for universities should be reflected in the composition of our students, our pedagogical approaches to teaching, and of course the subject matter.

“The consequence of this is that our students should, I think, be upskilled with relevant conceptual and practical skills that are internationally recognised.”.

“Universities face significant challenges in light of the globalisation of tertiary education, including fee differentials, third-stream funding and global marketing/accreditation.”.

Dr Duval will be in Australia next week to provide his view on today’s modern universities and what needs to happen to ensure students are best equipped.

He will provide a presentation at Central Queensland University’s 2006 Learning and Teaching Showcase to be held at CQU Rockhampton from February 8 to 10. The theme of the event is ‘Highways of Higher Education’.

Full details of the Showcase can be found at: http://learning.cqu.edu.au/showcase2006/ .

Other invited guest speakers include: Professor Richard Johnstone – Carrick Institute; Professor Sandra Wills – University of Wollongong; Associate Professor Justin Malbon – Griffith University; and Associate Professor Seamus Fagan –University of Newcastle.

Dr Duval is a senior lecturer in Tourism and serves as Director of the International Business Program in the School of Business. He has a PhD in Environmental Studies and professional background as a market/marketing research consultant in Toronto, Canada before moving to New Zealand in 2001. His research interests include migration/temporary mobility and aviation management and he has recently completed writing a book on transport and tourism.