Innovation, Virtual Internationalization, and Interdisciplinarity

the pillars of scientific entrepreneurship for the institutional excellence

Authors

Keywords:

Internationalization of Higher Education Institution, Innovation, Virtual Internationalization, Interdisciplinarity, The Internationalization Cycle

Abstract

The internationalization of Higher Education Institutions (HEI) represents a challenge considering the virtual environment as an opportune field to maintain quality and international coverage. Thus, this research aimed to investigate how innovation, virtual internationalization and interdisciplinarity are used by HEI as elements to achieve institutional excellence. The methodological procedure involves a discussion of authors on bibliographic material, a descriptive and qualitative method and content analysis. The result was the elaboration of a framework based on a theoretical-reflexive study comparing the stages of the internationalization cycle described by Knight (1994) and the three proposed pillars of internationalization, which are innovation, virtual internationalization, and interdisciplinarity. The results evidentiate links between stages and each of three proposed pillars, resulting in a framework composed by these elements, since surround and connect these steps in a wide perspective, promoting an overview of the institution. Moreover, the six cycle steps of Knight (awareness, commitment, planning, operationalization, review and reinforcement) are considered by the author essential for institutional internationalization. Based on this theoretical-reflexive study, for further research this framework might be applied in specific cases to verify how institutions are planning their strategies related to internationalization, especially considering the virtual environment as a potential alternative to HEI achieve institutional excellence.

Author Biographies

Enio Snoeijer, Federal University of Santa Catarina

PhD student in the Graduate Program in Administration (PPGA) at the Federal University of Santa Catarina - UFSC. Master in University Administration from the Graduate Program in University Administration (PPGAU) at UFSC (2020). Graduated in Executive Secretariat at UFSC (2019) with the Student Merit Award for the best course performance index. Specialist in Administration, Public Management and Social Policies at UNIESC (2014). Graduated in Biological Sciences from UFSC (2002). He has held the position of administrative assistant at UFSC since 2012. He has been a member of the Research and Practice Group in Management and Secretariat (PPGSec) since 2016 and of the Research Group on Management of the Internationalization of Higher Education Institutions (GIIES) since 2020, both at UFSC. He served as Vice-Treasurer of the Brazilian Association for Secretarial Research (ABPSEC) in the 2019/2021 term. He served as Editorial Manager of the Connection Scientific Journal (CSJ) from 2020 to 2022. He has been a researcher at the Institute of Research and Studies in University Administration (INPEAU) at UFSC since August 2022.

Luciane Stallivieri, Federal University of Santa Catarina

Dr. Stallivieri graduated in Foreign Languages from the University of Caxias do Sul, Brazil. She holds a masters degree in International Cooperation from the São Marcos University, São Paulo, Brazil, and a PhD in Modern Languages from the Universidad del Salvador (USal), Buenos Aires, Argentina. She is a specialist in University Management from the Inter-American University Organization (IOHE) of Canada. She is a Santander W30 Scholar at the Anderson School of Management at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), in the United States and a Visiting Professor at the American Field Service (AFS) Intercultural Program, Chicago, United States. Served as Executive Secretary of the Presidency of the Association of Portuguese Language Universities (AULP). She is currently a Professor in the Postgraduate Program in University Administration at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, where she teaches the subject Internationalization of Higher Education and International Cooperation Management. She is a researcher at the Institute of Studies and Research in University Administration (INPEAU) at the Federal University of Santa Catarina. Consultant at GlobalEd Colombia - Platform for the Internationalization of Higher Education in Colombia, sponsored by DAAD, Germany. She is an invited speaker to give lectures and webinars in more than thirty countries, including: United States, Argentina, Mexico, Brazil, Cuba, Colombia, China, among others. With over 20 years in international education, her specialties include the management of international cooperation and the internationalization of higher education based on the knowledge management approach. Nowadays, she is the co-founder of a consulting group named Internationalization Hub (IHub).

Alexandre Marino Costa, Federal University of Santa Catarina

Full Professor at the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC). Post-doctorate at The Open University, England - United Kingdom (2015-2016), graduated in Administration from the Federal University of Santa Catarina (1994), Master in Administration from UFSC (1998), PhD in Production Engineering from UFSC (2004). Professor at the Department of Administration Sciences at UFSC since 2005. In the university administration of UFSC, he has served as Pro-Rector of Undergraduate Studies, Director and Vice-Director of the Socioeconomic Center, Deputy Coordinator of the Postgraduate Program in Administration (academic master's and doctorate), Coordinator of the undergraduate course in Administration, in-person and distance modalities, as well as Coordinator of the Specialization Course in Public Management (2011-2013), member of the National Training Program in Public Administration (PNAP), offered in the distance modality, within the scope of the Open University System of Brazil (UAB/Capes). He was President of the National Forum of Pro-Rectors of Undergraduate Studies (2018-2019) and Southern Regional Coordinator of the College of Pro-Rectors of Undergraduate Studies (2019-2020) - CoGRAD/Andifes. He currently develops his academic activities in the undergraduate courses in Administration and Public Administration, and in the postgraduate programs in Administration (master's and doctorate) and University Administration (professional master's). His academic activities are focused on the Training of Administrators and Managers, Financial Administration, Public and University Administration.

Pedro Antônio de Melo, Federal University of Santa Catarina

PhD in Production and Systems Engineering and Master in Administration from the Federal University of Santa Catarina. He holds a degree in Portuguese and Brazilian Literature from UFSC; a specialist degree in Human Resources from UFSC, and a degree in University Management from CRUB - Council of Rectors of Brazilian Universities in partnership with the IOI - Inter-American University Organization (2004), Canada. He holds a post-doctorate in Higher Education from the International Institute for Higher Education in Latin America and the Caribbean (IESALC), UNESCO. He received an Honorary Doctorate from the Honorable Academia Mundial de Educación - HAME (2012). He is a professor at UFSC - Federal University of Santa Catarina, in the Department of Administrative Sciences - CAD, where he teaches subjects related to Entrepreneurship. In the Postgraduate Programs in Administration - PPGAdm and University Administration - PPGAU, he teaches subjects and develops research related to University Management. He was Coordinator of the Professional Master's Degree in University Administration (2010 - 2016). He was Coordinator of the Institute of University Management and Leadership - IGLU - Brazil Region, of the Inter-American University Organization OUI, Canada, from 2010 to 2019. He was Editor of the Journal of University Management in Latin America – GUAL. He was Director of the Institute of Research and Studies in University Administration - INPEAU, from 2004 to 2023 and currently is the INPEAU president.

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Published

2025-07-08

How to Cite

Snoeijer, E., Stallivieri, L., Marino Costa, A., & Antônio de Melo, P. (2025). Innovation, Virtual Internationalization, and Interdisciplinarity: the pillars of scientific entrepreneurship for the institutional excellence . Brazilian Journal of Management and Innovation (Revista Brasileira De Gestão E Inovação), 12(2). Retrieved from https://sou.ucs.br/etc/revistas/index.php/RBGI/article/view/13553

Issue

Vol. 12 No. 2 (2025): (May-August)

Section

RBGI Articles

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Copyright (c) 2025 Enio Snoeijer, Luciane Stallivieri, Alexandre Marino Costa, Pedro Antônio de Melo

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