Benefits of Internationalisation of Education - Essay Example

Internationalisation of Education Introduction Over time, it has become evident that many students opt to carry out their higher education studies overseas or in countries abroad. The number of foreign students in westernized countries such as the United States, Australia and European countries steadily increases with time. For example, between 2008 to 2009, the United States hosted over 671, 616 foreign students, followed by Australia and the United Kingdom which witnessed an enrolment of 280,000 and 330,000 respectively. These countries are priority targets for students seeking higher education abroad mainly because students are often attracted toward higher quality education institutions in these countries (WES, 2007). This has in turn brought about both negative and positive impacts to the home countries and the host countries (Marginson et al, 2010). This essay seeks to examine the extent in which the internationalisation of education benefits or harms the home and host countries of international students. Benefits of internationalising education Host countries In recent years, research studies focusing on the internationalisation of education have expanded substantially. These studies not only focus on student mobility and internationalisation of polices. Rather some studies have expanded to look into the impacts of internationalisation of education to home and host countries of international students (Kehm & Teichler, 2007). For example, a study conducted by Marginson et al (2010 examine a wide range of issues revolving around the international students. In the book, “International Student Security “Marginson et al, (2010) record some of the benefits associated with the internationalisation of education for the host countries. They note that in host countries, internationalisation of education has been an important contributing factor to the growth and expansion of education. The increasing mobility of international students has seen a good number of education institutions in host countries expand their facilities, infrastructures and programs in order to accommodate the increasing numbers of international students (Marginson et al 2010). Moreover, internationalisation of education contributes to the economic development of host countries. Host countries get economic benefits from money obtained for tuition, living expenses, housing, entertainment and other expenditures. Therefore, international students contribute to the development of the local economy through their expenditures. In many institutions, international students are usually required to pay full tuition fees and do not enjoy government subsidies as local students do. Therefore, institutions benefit financially from the internationalisation of education (Marginson et al 2010). In addition to economic benefits, internationalising education helps to promote good international relations. International students who return to their homes after studying overseas can serve as opinion makers and goodwill ambassadors. In this case, international students can act as informal diplomats due to the experience gained in a different country. Furthermore, countries which open their doors to international students from different countries tend to enjoy good foreign relations with the home countries of international students hosted in their countries. For example, Australia, US and UK have good foreign relations with India, China. A good number of the international student’s population in Australia, US and UK come from India and China. This interaction could be one of the contributing factors to the good foreign relations experienced between these countries (Marginson et al 2010; WES, 2007). Host countries stand a great chance of tapping into the knowledge, skills, talents and expertise brought by international students. Learning institutions in host countries appreciate international students mainly because many of these students are usually hardworking, intelligent and they bring in diverse ideas from their cultures into students groups and tutorials thus making the university to become enriched. Besides bringing in cultural enrichment in learning institutions, international students help to bring in positive changes to the old traditional systems. Many institutions have introduced new programs and subjects in order to meet the needs of international students (Harrison, Cushen & Hutchison, 2006). Moreover, international students bring in professional manpower to their host countries. In some cases, international students may opt to work in their host hence they provide their host countries with professional manpower. It is worth noting that most international students enrol for post-graduate courses. As a course requirement, they are often required to do their internship, attachment or residency in local firms. As a result, most local firms are able to tap into the knowledge, skills, talents and expertise brought by international students (Maringe & Foskett, 2010). Home countries When international students return to their home countries after studying abroad, they bring back an additional human capital that they obtain while they were away. The human capital brought to their home countries is not only enhanced through the formal education received from overseas countries but also from the cultural , social , intellectual and personal experiences gained from other countries. This advanced stock of human capital is bound to bring benefits in economic terms and increase the labour productivity of these students in their subsequent careers. Countries that send their students to study in overseas countries minimize administrative costs associated with managing students in higher education institutions (Throsby, 2001). Disadvantages of internationalising education Home countries Marginson et al (2010) note that internationalising education has led to the commercialisation of education. Internationalising education has contributed to increased international student movement. This has in turn provided the educational institutions in hosting countries with lucrative opportunities as they have capitalized on this demand. International students are usually required to pay full tuition fees and do not enjoy government subsidies as local students do. As a result, international students have found themselves to be the unwitting cash cows for “international universities”. Governments, parents or guardians sending their children to study abroad incur a lot of costs when financing their education. Costs of studying in overseas countries are extremely high as compared to the costs of education in their home country (Marginson et al, 2010). Countries that send their students to overseas countries to study stand the chance of loosing their skill and talent pool. A good number of international students who study in overseas countries choose to remain and work in these countries rather than go back to their home countries. (Altbach, 1998). For example, Western countries are increasingly opening opportunities to recruit and retain international students after graduation mainly because international students hold both short-term and long-term gains for their countries and institutions (WES, 2007). In addition, by sending their students to study in overseas countries, home countries miss the chance of developing the capacity of their institutions and enhancing the quality of educational programmes. Reliance in overseas countries to educate their students creates complacency in educational institutions in home countries. Moreover, Marginson et al (2010) observes that international students have increasingly become victims of a rising spate of racially motivated discrimination and assaults. There have been a number of highly publicized attacks on students especially targeted toward South Asian students in what is referred to as “curry bashing”. Students from India and China have especially been targeted by gangs of young men. There have also been cases whereby foreign students have been severely mistreated and killed. These series of discrimination, assaults and killings may affect the performance of students in schools and as a result cause losses to the home countries (Marginson et al 2010). Host countries Countries that host international students are also bound to incur additional costs when it comes to program delivery costs, infrastructure establishment and administrative costs. The increasing number of international students has forced many educational institutions to expand and develop the capacity of their programs, infrastructures and facilities in order to meet the demand of the increasing number of students. As a result these institutions end up spending a lot of money as a result of program delivery costs, infrastructure establishment costs and administrative costs (Throsby, 2001). Hosting international students also increases the burden of host countries. For example, due to the increased number of foreign students in overseas countries governments have been forced to enact policies and provide additional fund to regulatory bodies in order to ensure that visa requirements and restrictions are not violated by students from foreign countries. In addition to this, learning institutions have been forced to incur additional costs in order to implement programs such as ESL and TOEFEL for international students especially from non-English speaking countries (Marginson et al, 2010; Throsby, 2001). Conclusion The number of foreign students studying in overseas countries such as the United States, Australia and European countries steadily increases with time. Research studies focusing on the internationalisation of education have expanded substantially have started to look into the impacts of internationalisation of education to home and host countries of international students (Kehm & Teichler, 2007). This essay has examined the extent in which the internationalisation of education benefits or harms the home and host countries of international students. According to the findings of this essay it is evident that there are both negative and positive impacts of internationalising education to home and host countries of international students. For instance, internationalising education brings economical benefits and contributes to the economic development of host countries. On the other hand, it helps the home countries to advance their human capital and increase their labour productivity (Throsby, 2001). Some of the limitations associated with internationalisation of education include; the commercialization of education and high costs among many other factors. References Altbach, P. (1998).Comparative higher education: knowledge, the university and development. New York: Greenwood Publishing group. Kehm, B. & Teichler, U. (2007). Research on internationalisation in higher education. Journal of studies in international education 11(3), pp. 260-273. Harrison, L., Cushen, C. & Hutchison, S. (2006). Achieve IELTS2: English for international students. Malaysia: Marshall Cavendish Inc. Marginson, S., Nyland, C., Sawir, E., & Mewett, H. (2010). International Student Security. UK: Cambridge University Press. Maringe, F. & Foskett, N. (2010). Globalization and internationalization in higher education: theoretical, strategic and management perspectives. New York: Continuum International Publishing. Throsby, D. (2001). Financing and effects of internationalization in higher education. Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development. Centre for Educational Research and Innovation. World Education Services (2007). International student mobility patterns and trends. Retrieved on December 1, 2011 from Read More