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Chapter 12
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-4666-5998-8.ch012
Convergence and
Internationalization of Higher
Education in Europe:
The Case of Romania
ABSTRACT
This chapter approaches the internationalization of higher education in Europe in terms of its relation-
ship with convergence trends in European higher education. It starts with illustrating a relationship of
mutual influence between convergence and internationalization at a conceptual level. The chapter looks
at developments of European higher education over the past two decades, including the Bologna process,
as triggers for increased harmonization of the European higher education systems. Among others, the
internationalization of higher education is a way forward in implementing the Bologna process. These
aspects are illustrated on a national example: Romania, through the influences of European, national,
and institutional developments on the internationalization of higher education. The analysis at institu-
tional level comprises a review conducted for all the 92 accredited universities from Romania, public
and private. The study searches the information available on universities’ Websites in relation with their
internationalization processes. The chapter ends with the discussion of the internationalization process
as a trigger and as a way forward for increased convergence in European higher education from multiple
perspectives that are applied to Romania: conceptual and applied, European, national and institutional,
and strategic and operational.
INTRODUCTION
This chapter approaches the internationalization
of higher education in Europe in terms of its re-
lationship with convergence trends in European
higher education. The connection is manifested at
regional, national and institutional levels and the
discussion is conducted through the example of
Romania. The chapter starts with a conceptually
directed discussion of the relationship between
Luminiţa Nicolescu
Bucharest University of Economic Studies, Romania