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Internationalization of higher education has become one of the most important policies for institutions of higher education worldwide. Though universities are international by nature, the need for intensified quality activities of international nature has promoted internationalization to be under spotlight of researchers, administrators and policy makers and to be an area for research. Each institution follows its certain way to govern its international affairs. Most Universities, especially in the ´Developed World´ started to plan it strategically. This study explores the best practices of internationalization at German and Middle Eastern Universities as well as the roles that the international offices play in the internationalization process and comes up with recommendations for the mainstreaming of international activities with the overall university strategy.

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Fadi Alshalabi has served as the Director of International and Cultural Relations of Damascus University, Syria, and as a national coordinator for many international projects. He is very active in the international higher education field, and is involved in many activities mainly with European Universities.

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