International Student Mobility in ASEAN

Abstract

This chapter will examine the present context where international student mobility in the ASEAN region is concerned. It will look at how national policy, regional policy, and specific mobility initiatives are functioning to support the creation of an ‘ASEAN Student Mobility' regional hub. In particular, the chapter will explore how these efforts relate to existing theoretical models that that exist to explain student mobility and whether they are framed in terms of this theoretical thinking. The chapter will conclude by arguing that while there is the potential for increases in intra-ASEAN student mobility which can enhance the economic and cultural life of the region, a more coherent and coordinated approach is required by the key political stakeholders who lead in the area. It draws upon two recent major research studies undertaken by the team examining student mobility in the ASEAN region.