Who governs the internationalization of higher education? A comparative analysis of macro-regional policies in Canada and the European Union

Abstract

The internationalization of higher education has become a politically strategic and economically promising policy area. As a result, the traditional authority and governance boundaries related to internationalization are becoming fluid. This paper focuses on the macro-regional internationalization strategies in Canada and the European Union (EU) in order to understand the changing dynamics of internationalization governance. By applying multi-level governance theory, the paper analyses and compares how internationalization is understood at the macro-regional level, revealing fundamental differences in the normative values. The findings indicate that while Canada is formulating an aggressive marketization approach to benefit from the intensified global competition, the EU is endorsing a more comprehensive student-centered approach focusing on quality and balanced partnerships. The discussion section elaborates on the strengths and weaknesses of the use of multi-level governance theory.