Internationalisation and Transformation of Higher Education in ASEAN Countries: A Distinctive Emerging Approach

One recent transformation in the global higher education (Hénard et al., 2012) ecosystem has been internationalisation of HE institutions. This paper draws on a recent, major in-depth investigation into the policy frameworks which underpin international higher education (IHE) in the ten nations of ASEAN. Supported by the British Council, the project places IHE approaches in the ASEAN region into the global context. Based on an assessment tool of the strength of IHE policies in over 40 countries worldwide covering student/staff mobility, quality assurance and equitable access/sustainability, the project shows that while across the region countries may be at different development stages of their IHE policy frameworks, there is evidence of regional commitment to IHE at the policy and institutional level, which compares favorably with other parts of the world. The paper argues that the rise of nationalist governments in various parts of the world, particularly in the west, may threaten internationalisation in dynamic HE systems. However, a distinctive approach to IHE may be developing in the ASEAN region which challenges nationalistic approaches and which is fostering innovation and collaboration. This ‘ASEAN centric’ approach to IHE has the potential to strengthen HE systems across the region, as well as the development of ASEAN itself.