Reconfiguring National, Institutional and Human Strategies for the 21st Century: Converging Internationalizations

This book addresses policies and strategies on internationalization across very different higher education systems globally, including inter alia from South America, Asia and Africa. The volume zooms in on the interplay between the national, institutional and “human” levels of internationalization. The latter is especially novel in that it pays particular attention to how internationalization shapes individuals – rather than only to the effects on student learning or research productivity. The work expounds on (a) the role of internationalization in fostering ethical forms of integration and preparing citizens to engage in dialogue across those differences, (b) the possible trade-offs between private benefits and negative social effects, and (c) the contribution of internationalization to a “global community of minds”. By discussing the human dimension, it becomes clear how internationalization can contribute to defining unique ways to confront today’s societal challenges. Moreover, as the world is facing unprecedented challenges in the wake of the coronavirus, a specific chapter examines how the pandemic has made diversity among different student groups more explicit and what implications this holds for the globalisation of higher education. A range of methodologies was adopted, including qualitative (case studies and interviews) and quantitative (e.g. surveys). The book draws on both strategic frameworks and research projects to provide new perspectives on how internationalization plays out, especially linking strategies with human impacts.