African universities in the global knowledge economy: the good and ugly of internationalization

Abstract

Internationalization of higher education is now a reality, impacting on higher education across the world in different ways and leading to different consequences. It presents varied challenges, opportunities and even risks requiring equally varied responses from universities. African universities are also engulfed in this context and, in addition to the many challenges they face, they have to deal with the growing complexities of internationalization. An important feature in internationalization has been the emergence of the increasingly competitive knowledge society and global higher education market in which African institutions also have to participate. This is at a time when uncertainty surrounds the potential of African universities in the knowledge society and their capacity to meaningfully utilise the opportunities while at the same time respond meaningfully to the challenges of their contexts. As the world around us becomes ever more globalised, higher education leaders and policy makers as well as university faculty, staff and students are becoming more actively involved in internationalization. This paper discusses the developments of internationalization in Africa and its consequences on African universities. It presents some of the responses by the African higher education sector and concludes with some implications and considerations for the future.