Relationship between globalization and internationalization of higher education

Abstract

Our paper examines the relationship and differences between internationalization and globalization in contemporary development of higher education. Internationalization and globalisation are perceived as central realities of the influence of the 21st century on higher education. Moreover, internationalisation and globalisation work together to transform the self-image and organisational activities of research universities and adult education centres. Some even go as far as to claim that the globalization process has produced a new grand model of global universities. We argue that globalization and internationalization of higher education help to bring talents, increase the balanced economic and scientific potential of a given country and shape up the human capital leading to the sustainable economic growth. However, the recent situation with the COVID-19 pandemic puts all these favourable outcomes under threat. More than 1.1 million international students were enrolled in United States colleges in the 2019-2020 school year. After decades of steady growth, that means a decline of nearly 20 000 international students per year. Our study examines against this background the differences between internationalization and globalization in the contemporary development of higher education. We discus the current and future developments of the globalization and internationalization of higher education and make predictions on their impacts on the universities in the United States and other countries.

Keywords

• higher education
• internationalization
• globalization
• concentration points