Internationalisation = key driver of HE Transformation (Global phenomenon)› Demand for HE is up (>3mn mobile SS)› SA home to 60,000 – mostly SADC&UNISA› SA preferred destination› SA has most highly developed HE system in

Africa (value for money)› Bilateral/multilateral agreements have opned

up student mobility (uni-directional)› SA HE system biggest producer of human

capacity for Africa

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› International fee income is beneficial to HE system

› Classrooms are more diverse (diversity leads to innovation – i.e. Internationalisation at Home)

› SA is becoming the Education Hub of Africa › Challenge:

Balancing national priority for Access to HE vs opening up to international enrolments

Joining global arena and remaining globally competitive

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Rationales for internationalisation Political Rationale

› Bilateral/multilateral agreements e.g. SADC protocol

› Cooperation, solidarity and assistance› Historical/linguistic/geographic links› Leads to/Results in:› Student and staff mobility

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Socio-Cultural Rationale› Promote mutual understanding› Diplomacy› Nation-building & multiculturalism (over

100 different nationalities represented at HE institutions)

Economic Rationale › Education is a tradeable commodity

(supply & demand)› New Zealand: Int. Ed. generates more

revenue than wine› Canada: Int. Ed. Generates more revenue

than timber and coal› UK: Int. Ed. Generates more revenue than

automotive and financial services › US: Int. Ed. Contributed $18.78bn to the

economy in 2010

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› Australia: Int.Ed. Is the 4th export product after coal, iron & gold

› International student recruitment is a booming industry

› International student enrollment in Denmark and Sweden dropped 50% when international fees were introduced in 2011/12

› NB: Economic rationale tends to overshadow other rationales

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Academic Rationale› Universities under pressure to contribute to

national development & economic growth› Focus is away from a resource-intensive to a

knowledge-intensive economy› Desire for international branding and status› Desire to attract and recruit talented students,

staff and scholars› Desire to enter into strategic alliances and

partnerships (for research, teaching and learning, funding, collaboration, knowledge sharing, innovation, exchanges)

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Takes into account:› Broad definition of transformation› Purpose of higher education› Rationales for internationalisation› Balancing national and international

needs/imperatives

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Thank you for your attention!