Research Paper Example on Unlocking the Benefits of Internationalizing Higher Education

Introduction

The internalization of higher education has been made a priority in the international relations policies of many nations. Rather than just being considered as a goal, it is viewed as a way of improving the quality of education offered and accessed. The translation and acquisition of knowledge, affixing global research, together with curriculums that have international content, are just a few of the benefits that come along with the internalization of higher education. However, it is not free of risks or disadvantages. There have been concerns over the prioritization of commercial profits, and academic colonization, as well as the increased difficulty in sustaining the delivery of quality education.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Save 25%

The internalization of higher education has been a direct result of globalization. Globalization has brought with it the forced need to have ideas and people moving across borders or boundaries to keep up with the ever-changing world. Across the globe, different universities have had to respond to the various hurdles brought forth by globalization. One such response is through internationalization. This transformation is aimed at benefiting from globalization. As such, several institutions of higher learning are doing the most to come into agreements, as well as collaborations with universities found within their regions or those based internationally.

Thus, the internationalization of higher education refers to the process through which teaching or research that is international or has different cultures attached to it, is integrated into learning. On the rating scale, the order in which nations have prioritized internationalization of higher education from the top includes Europe, North America, Middle East, Latin America, Caribbean. The English-speaking countries are often prioritized and, as such, control the internationalization market framework.

Research Aims and Objectives

The spread of COVID-19 has seen several sections vastly affected across the globe. Economies have been on a downward trajectory, many people have lost their jobs due to the closure of many businesses, the education sector, amongst many others, has been hard-hit as well. This paper seeks to explore the impact of the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) particularly on higher education learning. Further, the case study targets Chinese nationals who account for the highest percentage of foreign students in the United Kingdom. As such, this paper seeks to establish the reasons for Chinese nationals accounting for the highest percentage of foreign students in the United Kingdom. Further, with the advent of internationalization of higher learning, this paper elaborates on the concept of internationalization of higher learning, some of the benefits that come along with it, and its challenges as well. It also seeks to provide input on how international students have been affected by the global pandemic.

The global pandemic has seen higher education take a different trajectory. Most institutions have now moved to offer to learn on online platforms. As such, this paper seeks to establish the differences between different modes of learning, i.e., online learning and traditional learning methods, as well as how the use of mobile learning is having an impact on higher.

Literature Review

A growing number of Higher Education Learning Chinese Nationals in the UK

Owing to recent reports, the number of Chinese nationals plying their educational trade in the U.K. has increased. Approximately, one out of every three non-EU students comes from China. Initially, similar numbers of Chinese nationals were being experienced in America. However, owing to the trade war and increasing political misunderstanding between China and the U.S., the U.S. imposed stringent policies on immigration against China. As such, the majority of the students from China who had been studying in the U.S. always felt unsafe and unwelcome anymore.

Further, a number of them experienced deliberate delays in visa processing and approvals. Consequently, most students from China opted for equally popular regions offering higher education and ad-less restrictions on immigration policies. One such area in the U.K.

In the U.K., part of their study package to international students is a two-year post-study work visa, which guarantees one's stay in the U.K. even after completing their studies. Further, a majority of postgraduate scholarships are funded by the Chinese government. With the universities' increased reliance on this money, they have opened their doors wide open, particularly to students whose country of origin is China.

It has also been established that several U.K. universities responded to the effects of the COVID-19 outbreak in a much better way compared to the rest in other countries. For instance, since the epidemic resulted in the cancellation of the IELTS tests, the U.K. responded by opting to recognize other less complicated tests of English, such as the College English Test in China (CET-6), as well as English exams from campuses. This slight intervention proved particularly appealing to many Chinese nationals.

Further, with many universities prioritizing mandatory deposit payments, most of the universities in the U.K. opted to give time extensions for the debts, while at the same time, allowing the prospective applicants adequate time to meet the requirements or targets for language and academic scores. The COVID-19 pandemic has seen the Chinese national being stereotyped as the cause of the virus. As such, they have faced significant security issues. Several universities in the U.K. have acknowledged this fact and have tried to come up with measures that will guarantee their secured stay while studying abroad. For instance, the Queen's University Belfast offered to fly all of its students whose origin was from China. It shall facilitate direct flights from Beijing to Belfast. Upon their arrival in Belfast, their private transportation shall be promoted into the school campus.

The programs offered in the U.K. take a shorter time to complete as well. For instance, for a degree program in the U.S. universities, similar programs in the U.K. only last for a year. The essence of this is that it saves time and is cost-effective. The effect of Brexit on the cost-effectiveness cannot be underestimated as well. Brexit resulted in the devaluation of the pound. As such, it has become comparatively cheaper to the previous costs.

Advantages of Internationalization of Higher Education

The U.K., just like all other Western universities, is seeking to foster secure international connections, to boost their capacity to facilitate the transfer of knowledge, implement concrete policies, and to promote global research. Furthermore, through the use of online technology, as well as social media in fostering access to information for all, these universities set themselves up at an advantage over those that are unable to meet the ever-increasing demands. Both the host nation and the "guest nation" do benefit from internalization. For instance, the host nation helps immensely from the finances involved in offering the program. Internationalization comes along with enhanced academic quality, churns out internationally-oriented students, and provided both national and international citizenship to students and staff who come are from developing countries.

Concerning developing countries, they can generate revenue and add value to the brains of their nationals, who could equally come back and benefit their countries. The domestic students also benefit immensely as they are privileged to have a studying environment that is diversified. Ultimately, the graduates who are churned out by these institutions are knowledgeable on the international front and have an awareness of a variety of foreign cultures. This type of student mobility facilitates their movement into a different environment within which they can connect, both locally and globally.

Attributes such as open-mindedness, promptness in thinking, being tolerant and respectful of others, etc.-all of which are classified under general characteristics, are gained through the process of internationalization. Students then develop a real sense of responsibility, as well as civic engagement.

Risks or Disadvantages of Internationalization

In contrast, internationalization also bears numerous risks or challenges that hinder its advancements. A lot of effort and energy has been spent on the universities in the West, at the expense of those from developing countries. The quality of study being offered at these developing nations is, therefore, subject to intense scrutiny and barely bares any weight or meaning when ranked against the superiors. Further, the commercialization of education, the brain drain of the best students who were expected to return, and benefit their nations, as well as the provision of low-quality education due to the prioritization of numbers as well as funding. Most of these institutions rely on revenue from international governments as well as well-wishers to function fully. One such way of getting these funds is through internationalization. As such, most institutions jump at the idea of recruiting, as many international students as possible with this target in mind. The challenge in all this is that it negatively impacts the quality of education that is on offer. When students are asked to part with the amount of money they do, the expectation is usually quite high. However, with the commercialization of it all, this expectation can never be met.

Further, the fact that these institutions insist on intercultural acceptance, the place of indigenous religion and culture, as well as one's true national identity is in jeopardy. The students mustn't forget their cultural identity as this often defines them. The internationalization of higher education is also playing a negative role in the creation of socio-economic gaps between different classes of students. Students from developing countries often end up being discriminated against by those who are from the West. Ultimately, instead of these students returning to serve the native lands, they are absorbed by the developed countries, much to the detriment of the developing countries. As such, it is difficult to realize any positive, sustainable growth.

Internalization of higher education has seen comparisons with modern-day colonialism, as there are claims that the curriculums are structured in such a manner that targets the increased influence of these developed countries in the developing countries. For instance, most institutions of higher learning in the E.U. have established branch institutions in countries such as Singapore, Omar, and Vietnam. Through such branches, these institutions are so far succeeding in broadening their dominance and impact within such nations. Over time, they are bound to be so deeply rooted in the functioning of such countries, to the extent that they are dependent on them.

Online Learning vs Traditional Learning Methods

With the advancement of technology in the modern world, most aspects of our lives have ultimately conceded to its use. In the education sector, online learning has particularly transfixed itself and many stakeholders have found it quite useful and have therefore adopted it within their education system. Most universities across the world have given priority to the integration of online learning in their institutions because of the numerous advantages with come with it. Millions of learners have taken advantage of this opportunity and have enrolled in multiple programs offered online by these institutions.

Consequently, the traditional one-on-one learning method which has throughout the centuries played the primary role in education has consistently l...