O papel dos relacionamentos interpessoais na internacionaliza？？o de institui？？es de ensino superior

the literature on internationalization of higher education institutions has disregarded two aspects inherent in this process: differences between the internationalization processes of undergraduates and graduates and the role of academic interpersonal networks in assisting this process. the aim of this article is to discuss the role these networks have with respect to the internationalization process at the post-graduate level. a comparative study has been developed in two brazilian universities (puc-rs and puc-sp). results have shown that in both cases internationalization policies are designed for the universities as a whole, without looking at any specifics for the process at the undergraduate level verses the graduate one, another-words, they are not treated as two separate cases. results have also demonstrated that academics' networks may have a relevant role for the internationalization process, especially at the post-graduate level.