FRAMEWORK FOR THE DEPLOYMENT OF VISITING SCHOLAR PROGRAMS

Visiting Scholar Program

About

Hosting international scholars for research, teaching, or collaboration is a cost-effective way to infuse higher education institutions with fresh ideas and innovation. These academic visitors, often invited by faculty to enhance research or academic capabilities, are rarely recognized as a distinct university community, and their contributions typically remain confined to their host departments.

Recognizing and harnessing their collective impact can significantly strengthen an institution’s global engagement. International scholars bring diverse perspectives and are highly motivated to maximize their short-term stays. While funding is often cited as a barrier, when resources are available, the challenge shifts to attracting these scholars and creating an environment that amplifies their contributions.

By establishing or refining a visiting scholar program, universities can capitalize on their role as hubs of research and innovation, fostering a more dynamic and globally connected academic community.

University champions—faculty with a strong ability to forge international collaborations—are pivotal in attracting international scholars to campus. However, their enthusiasm for hosting global peers is often hindered by fragmented procedures, highlighting the need for a streamlined process to formalize the temporary appointment of these scholars as official members of the institution.

Revitalizing a visiting scholar program requires actively incorporating insights and recommendations from home faculty to ensure its success.

The Role of University Champions

Amid limited resources, host universities must balance the demand for international graduate students, who contribute to emerging or expanding research projects as visiting scholars, with the recruitment of established international scholars, who may bring access to well-funded research initiatives.

Both groups enhance the campus research culture, but institutions aiming to centralize international visiting scholar programs must align their research goals with their hosting capacity. Key considerations include:

How quickly should visiting scholars be expected to make a tangible impact on campus?
How should resources—existing or new—be allocated between graduate students and established scholars?
What mix of aspiring and established scholars best suits the institution’s needs at a given time?
Which types of institutional partnerships are best fostered by each group, and how can the host institution support these connections?
What is the institution’s capacity to effectively host international scholars?

By addressing these questions, universities can strategically develop visiting scholar programs that maximize impact and foster global collaboration.