Higher Education Activities in World Cities: A Spatial Study of Global Leadership and Connectivity

Abstract

Key characteristic of globalization is intensified interconnectedness among different places and individuals, beyond exchanges led by states and governments. However, existing literature on the geographies of higher education under globalization primarily focuses on the interactions at the regional scale and the intercountry level. Little is known about the disaggregate distribution of higher education activities in cities and the manner in which cities are connected in terms of academic linkages. This chapter reveals the spatial distribution of world cities with more higher education activities showing international standings and global connections. A four-indicator system of Globalizing Education Index, which consists of the Place Power and Network Power of cities, is proposed to measure the internationalization and connectivity of places. The spatial distribution of cities performing well in the four areas of prestigious-university standings, influential world scholars, international academic events, and global research networking suggests that decentralization of higher education activities is restricted to certain aspects, although the movement and information flows of the knowledge economy are supposedly more unrestricted under globalization. The geographical distribution of world cities with high Globalizing Education Index remains concentrated in North America with strong historical and cultural backgrounds of world academia and slightly spread to East Asia due to its strength in organizing international events. This chapter supplements existing geographical studies on higher education and proposes further research directions addressing the influence of geography and connectivity in facilitating academic activities with a global reach.