Emerging Concept of Internationalisation in South African Higher Education: Conversations on Local and Global Exposure at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits)

Abstract

Rather than paying attention to the specific approaches emerging from different contexts, current debates tend to privilege Western-universalizing concepts of internationalisation, unproblematically accepted as globally established truths. In South Africa, where the legacy of isolation and the dominance of Eurocentricism in academia have inspired considerable scepticism regarding internationalisation, the challenge is to find innovative approaches that account for its specific context. This article responds to this challenge by examining the emerging concept of internationalisation at Wits. It does so with reference to three questions: What conceptions inform the internationalisation practice at Wits? Does Wits have appropriate strategies in place to promote internationalisation? How do these match its particular circumstances?

Internationalization of Georgian Higher Education: National and International Influences

“…In many ways, the Georgian context is similar to other national cases, as it includes a variety of approaches and activities at the system-wide, institutional, and individual levels (Altbach & Knight, 2007); multiple definitions and characteristics of internationalization are common (Knight, 2012); and there is little consensus on the best strategies to promote it (Cross, Mhlanga, & Ojo, 2011;Warwick & Moogan, 2013).…”

Internationalization of Higher Education: A South African Perspective

“…These studies were instrumental for the exploratory literature review and helped to map the landscape of internationalization of higher education, higher education in Africa, Southern African. Studies from Cloete et al (2004), Moja (2006), Pillay (2006), Sehoole (2006), Kishun (2007), Cross, Mhlanga, and Ojo (2011), Kotecha (2012), Razak (2012) and few others were most relevant for the focused literature review and they were taken for detailed review and analysis to map the landscape of higher education transformation in South Africa and South African perspectives on internationalization of higher education. Based on the understanding through the exploratory and focused literature review the authors further narrated their critical reflection and interpreted South African perspectives on internationalization of higher education.…”

“…Internationalization has been seen as a critical part of higher education transformation in South Africa, yet it has not been well integrated (Kishun, 2007). Cross et al (2011) observe that current debates tend to privilege Western and universalizing concepts of internationalization, un-problematically accepted as globally established truths. They point out that in South Africa, the legacy of isolation and the dominance of Eurocentricism in academia have inspired considerable scepticism regarding internationalization, and therefore the challenge is to find innovative approaches appropriate for its specific context.…”

“…Some of the important recommendations of the Guide to South African Higher Education (IEASA, 2004) are that policy development should take into account complex issues such as "brain drain," "brain gain," and "brain circulation." Scholars such as Sehoole (2006), Cross et al (2011) believe that South Africa must make strategic decisions as to the optimal balance between importing foreign and growing local skills. In addition, it will be critical to find a model for internationalization that is principled and ethical in South Africa's own context.…”

A Multiphase Mixed Methods Approach to the Internationalization of Higher Education in South Africa: Outline of a Discursive Research Framework

“…On the contrary, HE internationalization in South Africa lags behind these ideals, and although the Education White Paper 3 of 1997 and the National Plan for Education of 2001 regard internationalization of HE as a focal point of the interconnected world, limited integrations of the concept of internationalization exist in HEP (Malaza, 2011). In addition, Kishun (2007) contends that internationalization is an essential part of HE transformation in South Africa, but still has not been totally incorporated in the HE landscape (Cross, Mhlanga, & Ojo, 2011). During the 2000s an outward-looking perspective starts to emerge, but without active action towards the internationalization of HE.…”