Introduction
On August 22, 2024, a landmark study on the internationalisation of higher education in South Africa was unveiled at a conference in Johannesburg. Commissioned by the International Education Association of South Africa (IEASA) and the British Council, the study evaluates the impact and challenges of internationalisation within South African public universities.
Key Findings
- Understanding of Internationalisation:
- The study reveals varied interpretations of internationalisation among South Africa’s 19 public universities. Senior management generally views it as integral to the university’s mission, while operational aspects like student and staff recruitment and curriculum internationalisation are more focused at the grassroots level.
- Structural Deficiencies:
- There are significant structural issues, including inadequate support from senior management. Many universities lack clear structures to support internationalisation efforts, leading to a dilution of accountability and effectiveness.
- Visa and Resource Challenges:
- Processing delays for study visas and inadequate resources are major obstacles. Some universities do not allow students without visas to attend classes, and funding shortages hinder the implementation of internationalisation policies.
- Academic Xenophobia:
- Despite some denial at higher management levels, perceptions of academic xenophobia are prevalent among lower-tier staff. This includes biases against recruiting international staff, influenced by a local-first recruitment policy.
Conference Insights
- Productive Partnership:
- George Barrett of the British Council highlighted the collaboration between the British Council, IEASA, and the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) as crucial for developing the study and its findings. The partnership has been pivotal in shaping the internationalisation policy and identifying key challenges
