Beyond Survival Paradigm for Sustainability: Moving TNHE in the Asia-Pacific Region into the Public Sphere

Abstract

Further development of transnational higher education (TNHE) has the potential to profoundly change our basic understanding of the role of the university when higher education, like other commodities, is bought and sold across borders. Without a larger social purpose that underpins its existence, the survival of TNHE is no longer certain, particularly faced with the challenges of the massive notfor- profit open online courses (MOOCs) movement across the globe. The survival paradigm is dominant but volatile when market needs shift or higher education capacity in importer countries is mature. This study aims to empirically examine whether the current TNHE development in the Asia-pacific region reflects the survival paradigm, and whether a dominant scenario with the entrenched image of TNHE intertwined with profit-making is diminishing the traditional prestige given to university as an idea to serve the broad public good. A qualitative research approach is adopted to collect data. The main findings include (1) contextual factors in understanding the current development of TNHE; (2) TNHE offering greater choices but for fees; (3) positive but limited impacts on local higher education;(4) playing the role as sub-contract manufacturer or OEM for Western knowledge; and (5) business-oriented over educational considerations. Thus, the paper argues that the issues that moving TNHE in the Asia-Pacific region beyond survival paradigm into public sphere should be further put into the debate arguing for TNHE sustainability.