International education as soft power? The contributions and challenges of Canadian foreign policy to the internationalization of higher education

Abstract

This paper explores the role of the Canadian federal government in two foreign policy areas: overseas development assistance and international cultural relations by providing a brief history of the federal government's engagement in both policy areas and highlighting the contributions and challenges of Canadian foreign policy to the internationalization of Canadian higher education. More broadly, the paper explores the unique characteristics of the Canadian federal government's role in higher education policy making, and in particular, its relations with academics and the university community. Ironically in a world increasingly characterized by greater international education flows, in Canada, there has been a narrowing of vision, a focus on more short rather than long term objectives and a limited engagement of dialogue between academics and the government to promote both development assistance and international education as Canada's soft power.

International Students in American Higher Education: A Quantitative Study Comparing Their Distribution from Both Synchronic and Diachronic Perspectives and the Implications on Policy Making

“…In North America, Melody Viczko and Clara Tascón (2016) found that the Canadian federal government endeavored to own and drive the internationalization of higher education as a diplomatic venture, while the provincial and territorial approach to internationalization was minimized by the federal approach. Accordingly, Roopa Desai Trilokekar (2010) pointed out that there had been a narrowing of vision in Canada, a focus on only short-term objectives and limited dialogue between academics and the government, which challenged the policy development of the internationalization of Canadian higher education. There is a dearth of literature regarding the policymaking that promotes the internationalization of American higher education.…”

A Systematic Literature Review of Funding for Higher Education Institutions in Developed Countries

“…It functioned as a "generous funder" that enabled Canadian universities to engage in large scale, long term international projects (Trilokekar, 2010). In addition, the agency also provided additional indirect support to international higher education and research through its funding of other units such as the International Development Research Centre (Trilokekar, 2010).…”

Revisiting the Notion of Hong Kong as a Regional Education Hub

“…In addition, a considerable number of studies indicate that higher education plays an important role in promoting and conveying the soft power capacity of countries, which subsequently enhances their overall international and regional influence (for example Nye, 2005;Watanabe and McConnell, 2008;Stetar et al, 2009;Whitney and Shambaugh, 2009;Trilokekar, 2010). This political imperative of higher education illustrates how nations can use higher education as a means to gain strategic political advantage.…”