Internationalization of Australian Higher Education: A Critical Review of Literature and Research

Abstract

This chapter critically reviews scholarly and professional literature produced since 1990 on the internationalization of Australian higher education. It considers not only journal articles and monographs but also research theses and publications produced by government departments and agencies, non-government higher education organizations and specialized companies providing higher education support services. The chapter discusses briefly the concept of internationalization, traces Australian developments in the internationalization of higher education since 1990 and then reviews a wide variety of literature under the broad headings of: the processes of internationalization of higher education; national policy and evaluation; export of higher education services; international students; and various other aspects of the internationalization of Australian higher education. A final section attempts an overall assessment, pointing to both strengths and gaps in the literature and the unfortunate lack of effective interaction between scholars with distinctively different theoretical orientations and interests. Since about 1990, a large amount of material has been produced by Australian and visiting scholars on various aspects of the internationalization of higher education, particularly relating to developments in and with regard to Australia. By far the main topics of concentration reflect the major commitment of Australian higher education institutions and governments to the export of higher education services and to the rapid expansion in international student enrolments. In many respects it is reassuring that the dramatic expansion in Australian international higher education student enrolments has been supported by such an impressive amount of research effort, particularly related to the social and educational characteristics of overseas students, their learning and study experiences, English language competence and development, and student support