Page 34 - AEI Insights 2019 - Vol. 5, Issue 1

AEI Insights, Vol 5, Issue 1, 2019

to the impact of globalisation. In the case of Malaysia, networking through regional cooperation
and inter-regional cooperation creates important alliances for cooperation and collaboration
within nations and higher education institutions. The international cooperation and exchange
programmes are important elements for the agreement between nations and its solely driven by
political rationale. (de Wit & J.W.M, 2001). The political rationale empowered the Malaysian
higher education stakeholders to participate in various international events to build networks
in order to promote the exchange of students and staff, knowledge transfer, sharing of best
practices and exposure to international cultures. Although ranking is noticeably related to
academic rationale, it is also linked to the political rationale due to the concern of Malaysian
Members of Parliament. The political rationale fits well with Malaysian higher education
system since “internationalisation agenda became a major thrust which will position Malaysia
as a hub of higher education excellence and become a destination of choice for scholars,
researchers and investors for global community” (Farina et al., 2015, pg. 18).
Even though the target of 250,000 international students by 2025 was perceived to come under
the political rationale by administrators, Knight (2004b) argued that in the last decade more
emphasis has been given to recruit more fee paying students under the money-making rationale.
Therefore, the target of 250,000 international students will certainly contribute to the economic
growth of Malaysia. Thus, it is agreeable that recruitment of more international students is
linked to both the political and economic rationale. The cooperation and collaboration elements
are linked to the political rationale. However, it is also much related to the other three
rationales. This is because networking which comes with cooperation and collaboration
between Malaysia and foreign countries, higher education institutions as well as within local
communities and international students is vital for internationalisation strategies for
international cooperation. A study by Van der Wende (2007) about Internationalisation of
Higher Education in OECD Countries recommended that intensive networking through
cooperation and collaboration could demonstrate strong internationalisation of higher
education. In addition, Chan (2013) underlined that to achieve greater internationalisation,
comprehensive cooperation and collaboration is needed and this involves large-scale reform at
institutions and national level. Therefore, the reform for cooperation and collaboration
undoubtedly involves the four rationale of internationalisation of higher education introduced
by Knight (1997;2004) and De Wit (2013).

Conclusion

Internationalisation and the development of a higher education hub has become a major trend
in higher education across the world especially in Europe and Asia. It has been argued in the
beginning that the Malaysian higher education international approach needs extensive efforts
to become an excellent international higher education in the region. Therefore, the four
rationale as introduced by Knight (1997, pg. 9; 2004, pg. 4) and (de Wit, 2013, p.17) are a
useful tool to evaluate Malaysia higher education internationalisation. The findings suggest
that Malaysia embarked on internationalisation due to forces of globalisation which impacted
the development of higher education at national and higher education institutions level.
Scholars and policymakers have stated that the four rationale are equally important for the
progress of internationalisation. This study suggests that economic and socio-cultural factors
play a significant role. The study raises an important consideration that international
networking is an important part of the political rationale and academic collaboration vital for
strategic alliances. While internationalisation is an important consideration for building
Malaysia’s higher education system, this study calls for the importance of maintaining
international cooperation through sustainable relationships through international networking,

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