Gestalt Revisited: Spin-offs and Assessment in International University Co-operation

International university co-operation is in a constant state of metamorphosis. Its future rests upon extraneous forces such as globalization and internationalization and also upon those who make policy decisions. Many international university organizations are auditing their programs and initiatives to such a degree that the cost effectiveness of such quality control measures are put into question. Institutional leaders are often forced to contend with low morale, trying their best to bolster a sense of hope, meaning, and potential in behalf of international initiatives that are more likely to be financially sound than altruistic. Although current data suggest that bottom-top approaches to international co-operation are more likely to withstand the forces of time, it is often left to top-bottom directives to set a course for action. Drawing upon a specific and recently updated research study, this paper examines salient programs and initiatives that would otherwise not exist had it not been for certain policy makers who have actively advocated and promoted international university co-operation. It is in this vein that Wertheimer's Gestalt approach is re-examined.