Activities

An important part of the job is to collect information, build up documentation, process it, make it available and use it for advice. The information also needs to be kept up-to-date (monitoring the international context). It also includes raising the awareness of international aspects and cultural sensitivities throughout the organisation (e.g. in multicultural society).

Within the European Union monitoring the European context proves to be quite demanding and often more than a fulltime job. A company may decide to outsource it but ultimately you need inside knowledge to spot the threats or see the opportunities. You cannot rely on other parties (from government to public affairs consultancies) to get an idea of proposed EU legislation, the intentions for its implementation or to recognise possible financial support.

The assessment of the international context results in its consequences for the organisation and to spot opportunities. This is the part of the job that involves advise to the

board; e.g. the consequences of buying supplies abroad, export of goods and services, establishing a joint venture or a daughter company, co-operation with a foreign partner, an international project (from research to construction), the exchange of students, public affairs and lobbying abroad, exchange of data, protection of intellectual rights etc.

In addition to monitoring, evaluating, advising and raising awareness throughout the organisation, the staff member in question also need to build and maintain its network. S/he also needs to travel to (help) implement the advice given, to network and to enhance the monitoring efforts. Many people seem to think that travelling is at the core of internationalisation but is actually just a consequence. The key activity lies in monitoring and assessing the international context for an organisation. In education raising awareness of the international context in lectures on all disciplines should even take priority over monitoring the international context of the organisation.