13 February 2022  Issue No: 679

Large-scale global geopolitical changes are shaking the world of higher education – from changes to mobility patterns to the rise of private competition when it comes to upskilling the workforce. Could the growth of transnational education be one way for the old guard to respond?

The European University Association has set out a radical vision to support its 850 member institutions in 48 European countries to move to an open science system that aspires to open access not only to scholarly outputs, but the whole research process.

China’s higher education internationalisation has moved from inbound to outbound in recent years, with Chinese universities now establishing overseas branches and programmes, although the balance is still mostly towards inbound internationalisation. While this could change, given China’s ambitions, there are still barriers in the way, ranging from quality and cost to politics.

To navigate a turbulent political economy and a constantly changing international higher education landscape impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the internationalisation of higher education requires sustained collaborative, mutually beneficial stakeholder engagement, and astute leadership that is aligned with critical thinking.

It is with sadness that University World News reports the death of Tunde Fatunde, a Nigerian professor of Francophone studies at Lagos State University and one of our longest-standing correspondents. Fatunde was an interesting and insightful man, friendly yet fiery about his beliefs, his defence of humanity and his love of Africa.

COVID-19 has dampened academic research productivity even though virtual conferences and webinars have become an antidote for visa denials and a shortage of travel funding. Where academic publishing is concerned, there may be solutions to promote development in African countries, as well as increase international support.

Universities need to look beyond the traditional source countries when deciding how best to target international student recruitment. But diversification strategies also need to create more inclusive campuses, say experts behind a new study into the next frontiers for diversifying student recruitment.