I would like to propose a differentiation into what I call “old” and “new internationalisation”. “Old internationalisation” is essentially comprised of activities in the course of which a person literally crosses a country border(mobility) or does do mentally (international degrees, for example area studies or comparative studies). “New internationalisation” mainly concerns systematic and regulatory issues, such as structural reform, standard setting, or market access. These are two very different setting of things. “New internationalisation” essentially concerns core issues of education policy. In other words: education policy pure and simple has become internationalised”, i.e. it is now being discussed, and, what is more important, often implemented in a supra- or international context (see Bologna, Lisbon or Copenhagen ‘processes’). (Bernd Wächter, Director, Academic Cooperation Association, ACA)

The quote above is the starting point for our presentation, focusing on how the ”new internationalisation” affect e-learning as well as how new technology affect the ”new internationalisation”. The paper will discuss how this ”new internationalisation” will/could play an important role in University networks like U21. In the paper we will discuss different strategies for the use of e-learning in internationalisation and cooperation between partner universities.

We take the Bologna process in Europe as an example, where there will be established a common higher education area by 2010 and where many countries already have implemented university reforms for this purpose (comparable degrees, credit transfer, quality assurance systems, etc) E-learning will play an important role in this development – the students can combine faceto– face learning at different universities (“old internationalisation”) with e-learning into full programs recognised by the involved universities within a common educational and quality assurance framework ("new internationalisation") and hereby receive a joint, double or multiple degree.

This new internationalisation consisting of standard setting, regulatory issues, market access, etc, will also affect e-learning. Quality assurance, pedagogical and technical issues, recognition of course plans, course structures, etc, will be even more important in e-learning than today. In all these matters the U21 universities have to cooperate, which makes the connection between Universitas 21 and Universitas 21-Global even more important. Cooperation in developing joint programs, student and teacher exchange, within a common framework and quality assurance system is crucial in order to receive mutual recognition between the universities and open up for joint programs and degrees. This also means that in a context of a blended mode of learning, where campus studies and e-learning are combined, elearning programs and courses must have the same quality standard as courses given on
campus.

Joint courses and programs within a university network, where e-learning is a part, makes teacher and student exchange easier. For students there are courses at the involved universities that already are accepted at their home university .A student can take the first semester at his/her home university, the next one as an exchange student at one of the partner universities, the third as an e-learning course, and finally receive a double or joint degree.