Role of Transnational Universities in Capacity Building in Hosting Countries: A Review

Abstract

The current review was based on the significance of Transnational Education (TNE), the role of transnational universities in capacity building and hosting countries, and the innovative aspects in which transnational universities are addressing the needs of the international community. This review was executed using the recent review articles and research publications based on TNE in capacity building. The data was gathered from the last 8 years, from 2016 to 2023, from renowned publishers, including Emerald, Wiley Higher Education Quarterly, Open Journals in Education (OJED), Emerald, Taylor and Francis, Springer, Sage, and MDPI AG. This search was carried out using multiple keywords, including; “Role of Transnational Universities”, “Transnational Higher Education”, “Transnational Education”, “Capacity Building”, “Skills Development”, “Host Countries” and “Hosting Countries”. A standardised approach to data extraction and synthesis was adopted after finalising 16 studies in total. Findings revealed that When universities participate in international education collaborations, they should also evaluate potential partners based on endogenous notions of student happiness, loyalty, and extra-role behaviours. The study explored the impact of TNE on employment prospects and career development, focusing on marketable skills, hard and soft skills, and cross-cultural awareness. Notably, TNE experience positively impacts professional growth and future social mobility. The study highlighted the importance of capacity building, sustainability, infrastructure investment, and culturally appropriate pedagogy in TNE. Challenges include linguistic barriers and differences in teaching cultures during COVID-19.