Page 35 - AEI Insights 2020 - Vol. 6, Issue 1

AEI-Insights: An International Journal of Asia-Europe Relations

ISSN: 2289-800X, Vol. 6, Issue 1, January 2020
DOI: https://doi.org/10.37353/aei-insights.vol6.issue1.3

THE INTERNATIONALISATION OF HIGHER EDUCATION: A
NETWORKING BASED CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

+
M.Miandy Munusamy
Azirah Hashim

Asia-Europe Institute, University of Malaya
50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

+ Corresponding author: miandy781121@gmail.com

Abstract
Internationalisation is an important worldwide phenomenon and a major trend in higher
education. It is also one of the ways nations react to the impact of globalisation. There are
multiple rationales that encourage various national governments, higher education institutions,
international organisations and the private sector to proactively engage in educational services
across national borders. Internationalisation theories have primarily focused on the
internationalisation process in the business and economic dimensions, but since 1980s, it has
influenced the structure of education and higher education systems. The network approach
emphasises the benefits of developing long-term interactions with foreign markets, institutions
and individuals. Networking also provides an important motivation for nations and higher
education institutions to enrich international activities and expand their landscape, share best
practices as well as transfer knowledge and balance risks. The study explores the Uppsala and
network theories of internationalisation and its feasibility for examining networking in the
internationalisation of higher education. It provides new insights into how the network model
of internationalisation allows the influence of external actors or organisations to impact on the
process of internationalisation of higher education. A conceptual framework on networking
perspectives in internationalisation, which has the potential to contribute towards achieving
internationalisation goals and the enhancing quality of higher education is proposed.
Keywords: Higher education, Internationalisation of higher education, Internationalisation theory, Network theory
of internationalisation, Networking in internationalisation

Introduction
Internationalisation is an important worldwide phenomenon and a major trend in higher
education. It is a phenomenon that arises from the impact of globalisation and relatively new
in the education process. The phenomenon has led to a broad range of understandings and
approaches. The globalisation of economies and societies as well as the increased importance
of knowledge has influenced the development of the internationalisation of higher education.
Substantial efforts have been carried out over the last decade to maintain the focus on
internationalisation of higher education (Knight, 2015). Internationalisation is a term that is
being used more and more to discuss the international dimension of higher education and, more
widely, post-secondary education (Knight, 2004). Multiple rationales encourage various
national governments, higher education institutions, international organisations and the private
sector to proactively engage in educational services across national borders.

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