Internationalisation of Malaysian higher education: policies, practices and the SDGs
International Journal of Comparative Education and Development
ISSN: 2396-7404
Article publication date: 2 April 2021
Issue publication date: 6 August 2021
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the policies and practices of internationalisation of higher education in Malaysia, and to specifically explore how Sustainable Development Goals are translated into policies and practices.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper takes a chronological and historical approach to examine policies and practices on internationalisation of higher education in Malaysia. This includes identifying patterns, trends and shifts on internationalisation at the system and institutional levels.
Findings
At the system level, Malaysia has transformed from a sending to receiving country, from being an aid recipient to an equal partner, and from a host to a provider. At the institutional level, internationalisation transforms from a fad to a norm, and from having unilateral collaboration to setting up multinational collaborations with international partners. Equally important, the paper discusses the role of internationalisation to address the global Sustainable Development Goals, and identify policy gaps at the national level and the de facto practices of Sustainable Development Goals at the institutional level.
Originality/value
This paper charts the changes of internationalisation of higher education in Malaysia, and importantly, shows gaps to incorporate the global Sustainable Development Goals and to relate this global agenda to the internationalisation of higher education.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This article benefited from the support of University of Tokyo. The authors would also like to acknowledge the unclassified information shared by the British Council Malaysia, British High Commission in Kuala Lumpur, Australian High Commission in Kuala Lumpur, Newton Ungku-Omar Programme Office and Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology (MJIIT), which helped tremendously to shape the context of this paper. Appreciation is also extended to the referees who had helped to improve this article. Yet, all remaining errors are the authors’ responsibility.
Citation
Wan, C.D. and Abdullah, D. (2021), "Internationalisation of Malaysian higher education: policies, practices and the SDGs", International Journal of Comparative Education and Development, Vol. 23 No. 3, pp. 212-226. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCED-08-2020-0052
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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