Models of Internationalization of Higher Education in Developing Countries—A Perspective of International Research Collaboration in BRICS Countries

Abstract

This study explored the international research collaboration in BRICS’s leading universities and their performance in the past decade. Based on the literature on the international educational policies in BRICS countries and the world university rankings, we select the top research universities of each BRICS country. We use the Scopes database, and the timespan of our research covers 2012–2021 years, which allows us to identify the critical points in international research collaborations in terms of research scale, quantity, impact, collaborative networks, and subject areas. We find that all BRICS countries have increased their international collaboration and production of international collaborative publications at varying degrees of growth. The research quality and impact of international cooperation in scientific publications in China and India have rapidly improved and enhanced. The other three countries are improving their research impact, yet their research quality has been limited or declined worldwide. Meanwhile, geopolitical factors, disciplinary advantages, and scientific and technological development need to influence the paths of international research collaborations in developing countries. As they integrate within global higher education, BRICS countries are beginning to establish their own distinctive academic and scientific development paths by actively participating in the international academic discourse.