Achieving Legitimacy in Cross-Border Higher Education: Institutional Influences on Chinese International Branch Campuses in South East Asia

2017 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 179-197 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lan He ◽  
Stephen Wilkins
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
East Asia ◽  
Belief Systems ◽  
South East Asia ◽  
Host Countries ◽  
Branch Campuses ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
International Branch Campuses ◽  
Institutional Influences ◽  
Institutional Forces

All universities must achieve legitimacy, as this is essential to attract students, staff, and resources, including funding. To achieve legitimacy in transnational higher education, universities must conform to the rules and belief systems in the host countries. Adopting a case study approach, this research aims to investigate the different institutional influences on three Chinese international branch campuses (IBCs) that operate in South East Asia. The institutional factors behind the strategies taken in establishing and operating such branch campuses are discussed, as well as the different legitimacy building strategies adopted to counteract the liability of foreignness in the host countries. It was found that legitimacy is established through three modes: legitimacy conformity, selective legitimacy conformity/nonconformity, and legitimacy creation, which are adopted according to the IBC’s dependence on local resources and the strength of the institutional forces in the host country.

scholarly journals When Developing Countries Meet Transnational Universities: Searching for Complementarity and Dealing With Dual Embeddedness

2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 314-336 ◽  
Author(s):  
José Guimón ◽  
Rajneesh Narula
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Developing Countries ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Access To Higher Education ◽  
Host Countries ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Branch Campuses ◽  
International Branch Campuses ◽  
The Past ◽  
Foreign Universities

During the past two decades, a growing number of universities, mainly from developed countries, have established branch campuses in developing countries. From the developing country perspective, attracting foreign universities can help mitigate financial constraints and capacity shortages that impair the state’s ability to provide greater access to higher education, while also improving teaching and research in general. However, foreign universities may also be detrimental if they crowd out their domestic counterparts. We explore different scenarios and policy options for developing countries aiming to attract foreign universities, building upon a review of four case studies from Chile, China, Kazakhstan, and Malaysia. Our analysis illustrates how host countries can provide incentives to align incoming foreign universities to complement and strengthen the areas of weakness in their higher education systems. We also reflect on how policy-makers can deal with the challenges associated with the dual embeddedness of international branch campuses.

Two decades of international branch campus development, 2000–2020: a review

2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 311-326
Author(s):  
Stephen Wilkins
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Branch Campus ◽  
Host Countries ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Branch Campuses ◽  
International Branch Campuses ◽  
Stakeholder Groups ◽  
International Branch Campus ◽  
Education Hub

PurposeThe research aims to assess the achievements and challenges of international branch campuses (IBCs) to date and to consider how IBC development may progress in the future.Design/methodology/approachThe article presents a review of the scholarly and grey literatures on IBCs. The commentary and discussion is structured around the objectives, perspectives and experiences of three key stakeholder groups, namely the institutions that own IBCs, students and host countries.FindingsSome IBCs have failed to achieve their student recruitment and financial targets, while others have been successful, often expanding and moving into new, larger, purpose-built campuses. In the last few years, several countries have announced their intention to become a transnational education hub, or at least to allow the establishment of IBCs. It may be reasonable to assume that when there is demand for a product, supply will eventually follow. IBCs will survive and prosper as long as they provide benefits to each of their main stakeholder groups (i.e. students, institutions and governments), and as long as the local demand for higher education places exceeds the total supply.Originality/valueThe article provides a comprehensive and up-to-date review of IBC developments and research during the period 2000–2020. The findings and conclusions will be of interest to both researchers and practitioners.

EMI and the international branch campus

2021 ◽  
Vol 44 (2) ◽  
pp. 229-252
Author(s):  
Sara Hillman ◽  
Keith M. Graham ◽  
Zohreh R. Eslami
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Linguistic Landscape ◽  
Multiple Sources ◽  
Branch Campuses ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
International Branch Campuses ◽  
Transnational Higher Education ◽  
International Branch Campus ◽  
English Medium Instruction

Abstract Transnational higher education (TNHE), often based on export models of Western-based universities and driven by neoliberal market economy agendas, has spread across the globe. One example of TNHE is Qatar’s Education City where six prestigious American international branch campuses (IBCs) all administer their degrees through English medium instruction (EMI). While there is a burgeoning amount of research investigating and problematizing issues in EMI higher education institutions, IBCs are a unique EMI setting due to their heavy reliance on importing faculty, staff, curricula and practices from their home campuses. Thus, this study takes an ethnographic case study approach to examine the language planning and policy and linguistic landscape at one IBC in Qatar. Drawing on multiple sources of data, the study reveals both the overt and covert language policies and ideologies of the institution and its various stakeholders, and the extent to which languages other than English are used and accepted.

scholarly journals International Branch Campuses: Success Factors

2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (93) ◽  
pp. 14
Author(s):  
Richard Garrett
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Education Research ◽  
Research Team ◽  
Success Factors ◽  
Limited Attention ◽  
Branch Campuses ◽  
International Branch Campuses ◽  
Cross Border ◽  
The World ◽  
Depth Interviews

The article provides an overview of the second part of a report on international branch campuses (IBCs). The Observatory on Borderless Higher Education (OBHE) and the Cross-Border Education Research Team (C-BERT) are the authors of the report. IBCs continue to grow in number and variety around the world, and the report includes updated estimates and patterns by country, but previously there has been limited attention paid to the success factors of mature IBCs. Defined as campuses in place for a decade or more, the report draws on in-depth interviews with campus and institutional leaders.

Building a Case of Student Experience for Sustainable Higher Education in Transnational Environment

2014 ◽  
pp. 597-611
Author(s):  
UmmeSalma Mujtaba
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
United Arab Emirates ◽  
Host Country ◽  
Student Experience ◽  
Mission Statements ◽  
Student Choice ◽  
First Year ◽  
Branch Campuses ◽  
International Branch Campuses ◽  
Transnational Higher Education

This chapter sets ground to realize the exceptional significance of students to international branch campuses, which is a popular mode of transnational higher education. Mission statements of different international branch campuses are analyzed that converge on the fact that most of these institutions irrespective of the host country perceive student as their priority. The chapter then moves on to explaining student choice, in a situation where number of international branch campuses co-exist in a home country, such as the case of United Arab Emirates that hosts 19% of the world’s current branch campuses (Observatory, 2012). This information is then employed to expound how international branch campuses can progressively build student experience. Within this chapter, readers can find steps to build student experience in the first year of operation, followed by fine steps that can assist in progressively developing student experience. The chapter then addresses the significance of students in transnational higher education and how this can be developed, leveraged, and converted to be a potent tool such as to ensure sustainable branch campuses (a form of transnational higher education).

scholarly journals What a Branch Campus Is: A Revised Definition

2018 ◽  
pp. 12-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen Wilkins ◽  
Laura Rumbley
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Branch Campus ◽  
Branch Campuses ◽  
International Branch Campuses ◽  
The Core ◽  
Cross Border ◽  
International Branch Campus ◽  
The Cross ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Core Features

Although international branch campuses have become an established part of the cross-border higher education landscape, there is still debate about what an international branch campus actually is. The purpose of this article is to propose a revised definition of “international branch campus” that is clearer and more implementable than existing definitions. To achieve this goal, we considered how the terms “branch” and “campus” are used in business and higher education, and then identified the core features of these campuses.

scholarly journals Transnational Higher Education and International Branch Campuses in the Gulf Cooperation Council Countries: The Case of the United Arab Emirates

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Michael Bridi
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
United Arab Emirates ◽  
Scientific Progress ◽  
Gulf Cooperation Council ◽  
Government Funding ◽  
Rapid Expansion ◽  
Branch Campuses ◽  
International Branch Campuses ◽  
Transnational Higher Education ◽  
Internationalization Of Education

The aim of the paper is to examine the emergence of transnational higher education (TNHE) and international branch campuses (IBCs) in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).  The findings demonstrate that the emergence of TNHE and IBCs has been the result of interrelated political, economic, social, and academic factors.  First, the formation of the GCC was a key moment during which member states sought to stimulate scientific progress through the development of higher education as part of a strategy to meet labor demands and economic development.  Second, the commodification of education and the drive to increasing profits in educational institutions combined with decreases in government funding to Western universities during the neo-liberal era of capitalism have been an impetus for Western universities to seek ‘new markets’ beyond their borders.  Third, the liberating of regional trade policies in services, including education, combined with the internationalization of education has enabled the cross-border movement of students, educators, and institutions.  Fourth, the UAE’s unique demographic group mix, which consists of a majority of international expatriates, combined with significant government funding in the education sector and international partnerships has resulted in the rapid expansion of TNHE and IBCs.

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