Challenges and strategies for the internationalization of higher education in low-income East African countries

Abstract

As it becomes more crucial to push the boundaries of science to develop new technologies and important global initiatives, internationalization can be instrumental in helping underdeveloped countries overcome challenges such as poverty, climate change, and educational inequalities. Higher education institutions have always faced challenges in the process of internationalization, which have occupied scholarly attention in recent decades, but little research has been conducted on the internationalization of higher education in less developed African countries. This qualitative study aims to shed light on the challenges of internationalization of higher education in low-income countries in East Africa. After reviewing the literature and interviewing academics, the obtained data were thematically analyzed. The results suggested 12 main challenges, which were classified into four major categories. The challenges include a lack of clear policies and guidelines; the inefficiency of the organizational structure of internationalization; financial, infrastructure, and equipment problems; weaknesses in scientific, skill, and language competences; cultural differences; non-reciprocal relationships; and a brain drain. Finally, strategies for responding to these challenges with regard to the internal and external environments of higher education institutions were proposed. Among the internal strategies of higher education institutions are the development of clear policies and visions, planning for the development of human resources, and sustainable budgeting for internationalization programs. External strategies emphasize the development of national policies and laws based on contextual and environmental conditions, as well as interaction and participation in international meetings to expand communication and use the scientific and economic capacities of international agencies and institutions.

Learning (abroad) mobility in the European Union: A comparison of youth in and out of higher education

“…Lastly, the significant and positive contribution of the number of languages known (including mother tongue) to participation in LAM is similar to the findings of a great variety of studies (Dessoff, 2006;Finn & Darmody, 2017;González et al, 2011;Moshtari & Safarpour, 2023;Ovchinnikova et al, 2022;Souto-Otero et al, 2013). Such a result could also be expected, considering the comprehensive literature on the role of foreign language knowledge in international student mobility.…”

Uso de herramientas y tecnologías emergentes en la enseñanza de la educación superior

“…Los resultados muestran que las características de los docentes en el proceso de aprendizaje están relacionadas con el conocimiento previo de la tecnología, la formación recibida y la actitud hacia la tecnología (Berdiyevna & Shokirovich, 2023). Desde un punto de vista teórico, estas competencias se dividen en cuatro dominios de competencia y se determina en qué medida influyen en el aprendizaje de los estudiantes (Moshtari & Safarpour, 2023). En definitiva, la alfabetización digital ha pasado de ser una simple herramienta a un elemento esencial de la educación.…”

A model to reconstruct lecturer dilemma in balancing research and teaching responsibilities: A case of one rural university in South Africa

“…Lecturers in South African universities, especially in rural areas, often encounter numerous challenges in their daily roles. These challenges, including limited funding, outdated infrastructure, and insufficient research support (Moshtari & Safarpour, 2023;Joseph, 2022) Furthermore, the participants' struggle to access journals and research databases due to financial constraints reflects a broader issue within academia. According to Sheikh and Richardson (2023), rising journal subscription costs have made it increasingly difficult for universities to afford access to essential research materials.…”