A New View of Internationalization: From a Western, Competitive Paradigm to a Global Cooperative Strategy

Abstract

Internationalization as a concept and strategy for, and in, higher education has evolved over the past four decades. Currently, discussion is increasing over whether internationalization is yet taking more distinctive forms in different parts of the world which better reflect local needs and priorities. We first consider several important moments in the development of international dimensions of higher education over the past hundred years which reflect the multidimensional and progressive development of internationalization: from an isolated to a process approach. Then we address the call for rethinking internationalization around the turn of the century, with initiatives such as internationalization of the curriculum in Australia and the UK and, across Europe, ‘Internationalization at Home’. The Covid-19 pandemic brought to the forefront a further rethinking: ‘internationalization of higher education for society’ and virtualization. But, internationalization continues to both reflect and exacerbate the inequalities in global societies. Moving our understanding of internationalization from a western, competitive paradigm to a global cooperative strategy is now an imperative for the coming years.

Keywords

• internationalization
• higher education
• mobility
• curriculum
• western paradigm