The Future of Education

Internationalisation is an important concept in business and higher education. Strengthening international associations and international relations between countries requires skills, resources and commitment. Skills are required to communicate effectively ensuring cultural respect and awareness, resources are required to fund prospective or actual face to face meetings and commitment is vital as time delays are common and progress is mostly slow and measured. The term internationalisation can be interpreted differently by different people. Some suggest that the term internationalisation is over used and misused in higher education. Many compare and contrast internationalisation with external processes such as globalization, while others associate it with collaborative processes that intensify relations in a competitive marketplace.
For decades internationalisation was viewed in terms of economic gain for institutions due to the funding that international students contribute. Conversely, students may view internationalisation as educational privilege because opportunities exist where previously there are none or limited education in home countries. However, over recent years, internationalisation has been recognised as a strategic priority that encompasses more attributes than aiding finance for higher education sectors. Australian universities are striving to expand, diversify and strengthen international involvement to reflect the true essence of internationalisation. As such, universities are refocusing, redefining and reinforcing internationalisation through research and learning and teaching to enhance the essence of internationalisation.This paper highlights the relevance of refocusing, redefining and reinforcing internationalisation to ensure the endless possibilities associated with global engagement are sustainable and benefit wider society. Internationalisation provides opportunities and challenges but the essence of internationalisation should be to enrich communities and help countries forge links with each other for today and the future. Internationalisation is indispensable, essential and positive for people from all cultures and institutions world-wide, involved in higher education.

Keywords: Internationalisation, Universities, Sustainability;

References:
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[3] Kelly, J. M. (2011). The essence of internationalisation. Australian Journal of Nursing, 9(3), 29-30.