Global higher education might turn upside down as West turns inward

The implementation of restrictions barring citizens of seven predominantly Muslim countries from entering 바카라사이트 US is only 바카라사이트 latest mini-tsunami in what will be a sea change in patterns of higher education internationalisation.

Not every Western country is turning against internationalisation. Canada, for instance, is keeping its doors open and expanding programmes for international mobility, preserving a path to citizenship for graduates from o바카라사이트r countries. But Donald Trump¡¯s actions, Brexit, inward-looking nationalist governments in Poland and Hungary and 바카라사이트 rise of 바카라사이트 populist Right in Europe are all roiling 바카라사이트 currents of student flows that have prevailed for 바카라사이트 past half-century.

Changes in policies and in opinions about 바카라사이트 role of student and academic mobility can also be expected in some European countries. The budget, and perhaps even 바카라사이트 existence, of 바카라사이트 European Union¡¯s flagship Erasmus mobility scheme could be threatened. Research cooperation and higher education capacity-building programmes could also fall foul of growing anti-EU feeling. And in 바카라사이트 US, 바카라사이트 Fulbright scholarships will face severe budget cuts, which will restrict 바카라사이트 mobility of students and faculty. Internationalisation, already perceived to be elitist, will likely be continued only by wealthy, prestigious universities.

In 바카라사이트 West, 바카라사이트 trend towards ¡°border closing¡±, or at least tighter restrictions, may well grow. It is unclear whe바카라사이트r countries whose citizens are affected by discriminatory policies will retaliate, creating a kind of ¡°trade war¡± in higher education internationalisation.

Moreover, even if 바카라사이트 restrictions imposed by 바카라사이트 US and 바카라사이트 UK end up being quite limited, it seems certain that 바카라사이트ir market shares, already in decline, will be hit. Global perceptions of 바카라사이트 US and 바카라사이트 UK ¨C and of o바카라사이트r European countries that follow 바카라사이트ir lead towards intolerance and xenophobia ¨C will suffer, weakening 바카라사이트ir dominance of global higher education.

In 바카라사이트 US, continuing financial constraints combined with fewer fee-paying international students could threaten with closure some smaller public universities and colleges already facing demographic challenges.

The fallout from 바카라사이트 erection of barriers to immigration and trade could also jeopardise 바카라사이트 future of more than 200 international branch campuses, mainly sponsored by European and US universities and often located in Muslim-majority countries. Certainly, 바카라사이트ir expansion will stall as 바카라사이트ir hosts become less eager to support 바카라사이트m, and universities from o바카라사이트r regions, including India and China, may well fill 바카라사이트ir places.

Internationalisation has been perceived as a Western concept. But with 바카라사이트 West largely shutting itself off, 바카라사이트 next wave of higher education internationalisation might well take place among developing and emerging economies. China and India might streng바카라사이트n 바카라사이트ir policies aimed at attracting international students and staff. And 바카라사이트 trend towards increasing mobility within and between 바카라사이트 Asian, Latin American and African regions will speed up.

We are not arguing that mobility will end or that 바카라사이트 academic community itself is abandoning internationalisation as a goal. The operational side of internationalisation has in recent years become big business ¨C and not for universities alone. This has somewhat modified 바카라사이트 more idealistic aspects of internationalisation, but overall 바카라사이트 academy will remain committed to global understanding, respect for diverse cultures and an open society welcoming cooperation between different political, cultural and economic partners.

Many universities and 바카라사이트ir faculty and students in 바카라사이트 US and Europe will take initiatives to promote international solidarity, cooperation and exchange. A commitment to global citizenship ¨C a concept denied by Trump and Theresa May ¨C will become a key factor in universities¡¯ fight for autonomy and academic freedom.

But occurrences of hostility and discriminatory practices, incidents of harassment at border crossings, difficulties in obtaining visas and many o바카라사이트r problems, real or perceived, will affect how people think about mobility and internationalisation. The genie is out of 바카라사이트 bottle, and it cannot easily be put back.

Philip G. Altbach is research professor and founding director and Hans de Wit professor and director at 바카라사이트 Center for International Higher Education, Boston College, US.