Is Internationalization of Higher Education the Way to Go?

Josephine Oranga, Eliud Nyakundi & Enock Obuba
Kisii University, Kenya
Corresponding Author: josephineoranga@kisiiuniversity.ac.ke

Received July 27, 2020; Revised August 21, 2020; Accepted August 23, 2020

Abstract: Internalisation of higher education has become the trend in higher education yet not many studies have focused on the risks and challenges that may arise from the phenomenon. This paper points out some of these challenges in general and highlights the concerns and risks that may arise from attempts to take education beyond an institution’s national boarders by examining and analysing literature from different schools of thought. The study adopts Raymond Vernon’s theory of International Product Life Cycle in an attempt to highlight the risks and challenges that lie beneath the process of internationalisation of higher education. From the analysis, the main concerns include: maintaining/enhancing quality of programmes, commercialisation of institutions/programmes, rise in low-quality or rogue education providers; domestic employers and institutions’ reluctance to recognise foreign qualifications, inability to meet domestic higher education objectives, overuse of English language, financial constraints, ethical, religious and political aspects of the host countries, attitude of staff, lack of institutional preparedness and the challenge of attaining an international curriculum. Recommendations are thereafter given to help minimise the risks and enhance the process of internationalisation. This paper presents the risks and challenges in general, even though the severity of the risks and challenges may vary greatly depending on the economic, political and socio-cultural status of the countries and the stakeholders involved.