The internationalization of higher education scrutinized: international program and provider mobility

Abstract

Abstract During the last two decades, there has been an exponential increase in all forms of international academic mobility - student and scholar, programs and providers, policies and regulations, and the universal exchange of knowledge, ideas, values, and culture. The diversity in the modes and forms of mobility is unprecedented. As with all new developments, there are multiple benefits, as well as potential risks, and usually some unintended consequences. These need to be carefully monitored. This article focuses on changes in internationalization and new developments such as international program and provider mobility (IPPM). There has been a steady increase in the number of international branch campuses around the world, as well as in the establishment of new independent international joint universities by partner institutions from different countries, an increasing number of joint/double degree programs, and revolutionary developments in distance education. In view of these developments, the purpose of this article is to introduce the IPPM classification framework, which provides a new conceptual structure to analyse the meaning, trends, issues, and opportunities of IPPM activities around the world and to identify areas of further research and policy development necessary to harness the benefits of IPPM, especially in Latin America.a