The question "Does the current objective of internationalization in higher education focus more on academic or political factors?" seeks to explore the primary motivations and priorities behind the process of internationalizing higher education institutions. It aims to understand whether the emphasis lies on academic aspects, such as fostering global research collaborations, enhancing educational standards, and promoting knowledge exchange, or if political considerations, such as strengthening diplomatic relations, geopolitical influence, and soft power projection, play a more dominant role in shaping the internationalization goals. By examining the key factors driving this process, the question delves into the broader context of how higher education institutions engage with the global community and the potential implications of their internationalization strategies on academic pursuits and geopolitical dynamics.
Looking forward to hearing your insights. Thank you!
Worldwide power is pluralising. Differences between countries, and civilisations or ‘traditions’, are more insistent. This is the certainty in uncertainty. The inevitability of difference.
This is not a bad thing because it begins to free up the world, multiplying our vision and practice. It is difficult for Western nations and universities to share power, but global differences were always there. What has changed is that the difference is now obvious and demands that we rethink the global order.
This is happening at a challenging time. Certain challenges arise where the pluralisation of power meets unilateral national interest. Consider geo-political tensions. A rogue Russian state is devastating higher education in Ukraine and Russia. A US government determined to maintain global supremacy is transforming American engagement with China from mutual cooperation to mutual strategic threat and the decoupling of technology. The decoupling of economies and higher education may follow...
Coloniality and racism have been as important as nations, class and capital in shaping higher education. They are as present today as at any time in the past, though we are now more able to tackle them. What we lack as yet in international higher education is a shared moral order and a consensus about the global common good, based in equality, of respect and epistemic diversity, that can unite us across the colonial divide between ‘the West’ and ‘the rest’. The essential starting point is the conscious rejection of Western superiority and coloniality...
https://www.universityworldnews.com/post.php?story=20230714203020126&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=GLNL0748
Concerned about Ukraine’s growing ‘brain drain’, the European University Association (EUA) has issued recommendations to help guide universities wishing to support their Ukrainian counterparts. Among the recommendations is the call for universities to establish inter-institutional partnerships with Ukrainian universities through joint programmes, joint classrooms and, importantly, remote fellowships that support Ukrainian scholars – 80% of whom remain in Ukraine – in situ...
https://www.universityworldnews.com/post.php?story=20230719212943578&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=GLNL0749
The current objective of internationalization in higher education is typically driven by a combination of academic and political factors, but the emphasis can vary based on the goals and priorities of individual institutions and countries.
Ljubomir Jacić Zaafour Abderrazak Zoncita Del Mundo Norman
Thank you, I appreciate your prompt reply.
The current objective of internationalization in higher education typically encompasses both academic and political factors. Internationalization in higher education aims to create a more globally engaged and interconnected academic community. This involves facilitating the exchange of knowledge, ideas, and people across borders, fostering cross-cultural understanding, and enhancing collaboration between institutions and countries.
Academic factors include:
Global Perspective: Encouraging students, faculty, and researchers to have a broader understanding of global issues and perspectives.
International Collaboration: Promoting partnerships and research collaborations between universities and institutions from different countries.
Study Abroad Programs: Facilitating student mobility and exchange programs to allow students to study in foreign institutions and experience different educational systems.
International Research: Encouraging research that addresses global challenges and fosters cross-border collaboration.
Multicultural Learning: Emphasizing the importance of cultural diversity and inclusivity in the academic environment.
On the other hand, political factors play a significant role in shaping internationalization efforts in higher education. These factors include:
Government Policies: The policies of national governments and international organizations can have a substantial impact on internationalization initiatives. Governments may provide funding, incentives, or regulations that influence the flow of international students, researchers, and academic collaborations.
Diplomacy: Educational exchanges and cooperation can be used as a tool for fostering diplomatic relations between countries.
Soft Power: Internationalization in higher education can enhance a country's soft power, making it more attractive to foreign students, academics, and researchers.
Economic Factors: International students can contribute to the economy of the host country by paying tuition fees and living expenses.
Bilateral Agreements: Countries may establish bilateral agreements to promote academic exchange and collaboration in specific fields of study.
In summary, the current objective of internationalization in higher education is a multifaceted approach that encompasses both academic and political factors. It seeks to promote academic excellence, global engagement, and cross-cultural understanding while also serving as a tool for diplomatic relations and soft power projection on the international stage.
What we lack as yet in international higher education is a shared moral order and a consensus about the global common good, based on equality of respect and cultural and epistemic diversity, that can unite us across the deep colonial divide between the West and the rest.
The essential starting point is the conscious and active rejection of Western superiority and coloniality, in the old imperial nations as well as in those nations that they long sought to dominate and control...
https://www.universityworldnews.com/post.php?story=20231129120746580
Disruption is not the only way to improve our universities
"Increasingly, international conferences on higher education are dominated by the hype of disruption. Sounds good. But is it really plausible? What is wrong with traditional, incremental innovation?
Over the past decades, innovation has become a mantra in higher education. It has been recited for years by scholars and organisations alike who stress that, if it is absent, universities will fail to meet the demands for quality and equity...
Unlike disruptive innovations, which create entirely new paradigms often introduced by new players, incremental innovation builds upon existing foundations, enhancing its efficiency and effectiveness, while maintaining stability.
There is no doubt that continuing innovation is key to the long-term relevance of universities, but to claim that ‘success’ relies solely upon their capacity to be disruptive is misleading. Incremental innovation is not only beneficial but may be the only path for change at established universities.
To improve higher education, it is important to demystify the narrative of disruption..."
https://www.universityworldnews.com/post.php?story=20240111073750674
Balancing the scales
Sustainable strategies for international student recruitment.
"The global higher education sector has undergone significant change in recent times. Senior leadership teams around the world find themselves grappling with the intricacies of juggling operational and strategic priorities amid the backdrop of financial constraints. A particular focus of concern is the complex relationship between international student recruitment and sustainability strategies within universities and pondering how these seemingly disparate objectives can be balanced.
One of the central tenants of higher education is the mobility of our students and staff across the learning, teaching and research landscape. Collaboration and interconnectivity define our pursuit of knowledge and excellence and drives innovation within our universities for a solutions-oriented approach to global challenges. This emphasis on dynamic engagement underscores the transformative role higher education plays in not only disseminating knowledge, but actively contributing to resolving complex issues on a global scale...
As a sector, we are still in the process of understanding and interpreting the impact of the Covid years and how the global landscape has shifted as a result, not least around student demand, expectations and preferences. At institutional level, much work is currently underway by universities to understand and offset their travel related emissions, while also being sensitive to the operational necessities of staff and student mobility. These conflicting drivers and priorities create challenges for all of us engaged in higher education and there are no easy or straightforward answers. Balancing the scales between international student recruitment and sustainability will require a thoughtful, strategic, and on-going commitment in our attempts to create a sustainable and inclusive global education environment..."
https://magazine.qs.com/qs-insights-magazine-13/balancing-the-scales
Accountability in internationalisation: it must be personal
At a recent European Association for International Education conference, we dared to declare the end of our dependence on institutional internationalisation and advocated the need for an active, personalised internationalisation with an emphasis on our own social responsibility and inclusion...
https://www.universityworldnews.com/post.php?story=20240123090142497
HE failing to match clean energy workforce demand – Study
"The rapid adoption of renewable energy around the world is not being matched by changes in higher education, with the result that the world still produces more workforce personnel for fossil fuel than renewable energy industries, according to a recent academic study.
“The global higher education system may be slow to reform because of the entrenched interests of the fossil fuel industries, which have political and financial influence on higher education,” argues the paper titled “The failure to decarbonise the global energy education system: Carbon lock-in and stranded skill sets” that will be published in the April issue of Energy Research & Social Science..."
https://www.universityworldnews.com/post.php?story=20240223104409766
Visa obstacles hobble global research
"Of the ten speakers from low- and middle-income countries invited to a panel in Portugal last month, only four were able to get visas — and Ghanaian herpetologist Sandra Owusu-Gyamfi wasn’t one of them. “My experience left me feeling demoralized, embarrassed and insulted,” she writes. Her visa fees, flights and other costs were not refundable. Visa issues also come at a cost to global efforts to prevent further biodiversity loss. “Our participation is not a matter of simply ticking the inclusivity boxes, but a deliberate effort to ensure that the voices of people for whom some of these conservation policies are formulated are heard, and their opinions sought,” writes Owusu-Gyamfi..."
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-00892-1
Universities will not disappear, but will have to change
The importance of flexible learning pathways and why universities might want to operate like travel agencies.
"In the past, university was one of the stops on the way to a career. Today, the function of higher education institutions is changing, adapting to the needs of learners. Lifelong learning, retraining, and flexible learning pathways open up new opportunities for all stakeholders...
As higher education institutions persist in confronting the necessity of achieving fairness, it becomes evident that taking proactive actions is crucial in demolishing systemic impediments. By placing a high value on inclusivity, colleges not only empower marginalised communities, but also enhance the entire educational experience for all individuals involved..."
https://magazine.qs.com/qs-insights-magazine-15/universities-will-not-disappear
Navigating the Future of Higher Education: Cultivating Global Citizens and Embracing Transnational Education
"We should aim to shape a future where transnational education serves as a catalyst for positive change, fostering collaboration, understanding, and innovation on a global scale.
Embracing transnational education is not merely a response to the challenges of the digital age but a proactive strategy to foster global citizenship and drive innovation in higher education. The goal is to prepare students, who are the next generation of leaders, scholars, and global citizens, to thrive in an increasingly interconnected world..."
https://scholarlykitchen.sspnet.org/2024/05/09/navigating-the-future-of-higher-education-cultivating-global-citizens-and-embracing-transnational-education/?informz=1&nbd=6f03e560-5431-4744-8998-e00223ee7a82&nbd_source=informz
Democracy and the threat to the internationalisation of European higher education
"With a rising tide of anti-immigrant sentiment in Europe, universities must advocate for international openness, inclusion and diversity within higher education...
International credit mobility has yielded huge benefits for European universities over the last 40 years, promoting students’ intercultural awareness and competency, their graduate employability and their European sense of identity. Research and education are truly global endeavours – by sharing the advances of others, wherever in the world they live, work and study, each generation stands on the shoulders of the geniuses that have gone before.
Higher education must work harder to counter the negative messaging of the far-right and advocate for international openness, inclusion and diversity in our universities. As Ireland’s recently launched Global Citizens 2023: Ireland’s International Talent and Innovation Strategy argues: “As never before, graduates who have a global perspective are needed to find the solutions to the grand challenges of our time… Today’s international learners [students] are tomorrow’s leaders, employees, researchers, social champions, climate advocates, entrepreneurs and investors. It is essential their learning and living experience in Ireland is inclusive and excellent, fostering enduring relationships that persist long after graduation.”..."
https://magazine.qs.com/qs-insights-magazine-16/democracy-threat-to-european-intl-ed
It’s an altered world. But academic exchange remains vital
"A new position paper on higher education and international collaboration in a changing European and Swedish political context highlights the need for academia to rise above national political priorities and advocate for academic exchange and cooperation with a full awareness of the risks...
Maintaining and developing international cooperation in the fields of science is an absolute necessity and unavoidable due to the very nature of scientific progress and our shared challenges. This must, however, be conducted responsibly: maintaining openness, while being mindful of security issues and other kinds of risks, both for institutions and individuals...
Academic cooperation is a necessary element in bridging differences and promoting change. Academics who have experience and expertise in these fields should speak up in public and should be acknowledged as experts..."
https://www.universityworldnews.com/post.php?story=20240518095941189
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