International Students in Open, Distance, and Digital Higher Education

Abstract

AbstractInternational students are a group of rising prominence in open, distance, and digital higher education, although there is, at present, limited systematic data about their numbers worldwide. International students in open, distance, and digital education occupy an interesting “third space,” whereby they commonly remain within their home environment and surroundings while simultaneously studying from an institution-based abroad. This means that many of the lenses used to frame and categorize international students in face-to-face settings – mobility, visas, and citizenship – are found problematic in online distance settings. This chapter reflects on these issues to outline complexities in categorizing international students in open, distance, and digital higher education and the ways that their experiences may be distinct from international students who are geographically mobile. The chapter ends with a reflection on gaps in current research and suggestions for researchers who include international students in their work.