Internationalization of higher education in times of crisis: search for the optimal concept

Abstract

In order to find the optimal model of internationalization of higher education in crisis times, it is important to consider various theoretical and practical approaches. The first approach focuses on the global nature of education, on understanding the university as an international organization or as a global factory that produces knowledge and innovation. The second approach focuses on competition between universities and countries. The third approach focuses on national priorities and denies the role of globalization of higher education. A common feature of these three approaches is the desire of universities to improve the quality of education and the competitiveness of their graduates. Growing tensions on the global political arena and attempts to isolate Russia from the outside world reduce the relevance of the first approach in its original sense. The authors of the study conducted comparative and sociological research to define the modern internationalization model and find out whether high school students are prepared to participate in the international activities of the university in the new realities and what motivates them. Based on the results of the analysis of internal and external environment, the authors choose and describe as the most relevant the integrative model of internationalization, as it combines the most topical characteristics of modern approaches to the organization of international activities of the university.