Challenges and strategies for the internationalization of higher education in low-income East African countries [Scholarly Article - Higher Education, January 2023]

Title:

Challenges and strategies for the internationalization of higher education in low-income East African countries

 

Authors:

Mohammad Moshtari & Alireza Safarpour 

 

Published:

Higher Education, 23 January 2023

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10734-023-00994-1

Abstract:

As it becomes more crucial to push the boundaries of science to develop new technologies and important global initiatives, internationalization can be instrumental in helping underdeveloped countries overcome challenges such as poverty, climate change, and educational inequalities. Higher education institutions have always faced challenges in the process of internationalization, which have occupied scholarly attention in recent decades, but little research has been conducted on the internationalization of higher education in less developed African countries. This qualitative study aims to shed light on the challenges of internationalization of higher education in low-income countries in East Africa. After reviewing the literature and interviewing academics, the obtained data were thematically analyzed. The results suggested 12 main challenges, which were classified into four major categories. The challenges include a lack of clear policies and guidelines; the inefficiency of the organizational structure of internationalization; financial, infrastructure, and equipment problems; weaknesses in scientific, skill, and language competences; cultural differences; non-reciprocal relationships; and a brain drain. Finally, strategies for responding to these challenges with regard to the internal and external environments of higher education institutions were proposed. Among the internal strategies of higher education institutions are the development of clear policies and visions, planning for the development of human resources, and sustainable budgeting for internationalization programs. External strategies emphasize the development of national policies and laws based on contextual and environmental conditions, as well as interaction and participation in international meetings to expand communication and use the scientific and economic capacities of international agencies and institutions.

 

Challenges and strategies for the internationalization of higher education in low-income East African countries [Scholarly Article - Higher education, January 2023]

Title:

Challenges and strategies for the internationalization of higher education in low-income East African countries

 

Authors:

Mohammad Moshtari

Faculty of Management and Business, Industrial Engineering and Management, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland

& 

Alireza Safarpour

Sharif Policy Research Institute, Tehran, Iran

 

Published:

Higher Education, 23 January 2023 

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10734-023-00994-1

 

Abstract:

As it becomes more crucial to push the boundaries of science to develop new technologies and important global initiatives, internationalization can be instrumental in helping underdeveloped countries overcome challenges such as poverty, climate change, and educational inequalities. Higher education institutions have always faced challenges in the process of internationalization, which have occupied scholarly attention in recent decades, but little research has been conducted on the internationalization of higher education in less developed African countries. This qualitative study aims to shed light on the challenges of internationalization of higher education in low-income countries in East Africa. After reviewing the literature and interviewing academics, the obtained data were thematically analyzed. The results suggested 12 main challenges, which were classified into four major categories. The challenges include a lack of clear policies and guidelines; the inefficiency of the organizational structure of internationalization; financial, infrastructure, and equipment problems; weaknesses in scientific, skill, and language competences; cultural differences; non-reciprocal relationships; and a brain drain. Finally, strategies for responding to these challenges with regard to the internal and external environments of higher education institutions were proposed. Among the internal strategies of higher education institutions are the development of clear policies and visions, planning for the development of human resources, and sustainable budgeting for internationalization programs. External strategies emphasize the development of national policies and laws based on contextual and environmental conditions, as well as interaction and participation in international meetings to expand communication and use the scientific and economic capacities of international agencies and institutions.

 

Scolarly Article (March 2020) - State formation and higher education (HE) policy: an analytical review of policy shifts and the internationalization of higher education (IHE) in China between 1949 and 2019

Title:
State formation and higher education (HE) policy: an analytical review of policy shifts and the internationalization of higher education (IHE) in China between 1949 and 2019

Authors:
Jie Zheng & Dip Kapoor

Citation:
Zheng, J., Kapoor, D. (2020). State formation and higher education (HE) policy: an analytical review of policy shifts and the internationalization of higher education (IHE) in China between 1949 and 2019. Higher Education. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-020-00517-2

From the abstract:
"State policies regarding the internationalization of higher education (IHE) in China have undergone significant shifts between 1949 and 2019. This paper advances the proposition that these shifts in policies pertaining to IHE can be understood as part of a process of ongoing Chinese state formation in relation to national and global developments and does so by examining the history of IHE policy and policy changes between 1949 and 2019 to demonstrate this possibility. We consider three specific periods to make this case, including (1) the period of Marxist-Leninist Socialist nationalism, patriotism and proletarian internationalism and the early engagements of IHE (1949–1976); (2) neoliberal globalization and opening-up: a return to the international stage and further IHE (1977–2002); and finally, (3) state developmentalism and the era of globally engaged higher education (HE) (2003–2019)."