Title: Learning mobility and internationalisation of higher education: economic and policy implications for BRICS nations

Authors: Ihron Rensburg; Shireen Motala; Solomon Arulraj David

Addresses: University of Johannesburg, Auckland Park 2006, Johannesburg, South Africa ' University of Johannesburg, Auckland Park 2006, Johannesburg, South Africa ' Faculty of Education, The British University in Dubai, Block 11, DIAC, Dubai, UAE

Abstract: This paper explores the ways BRICS nations deal with internationalisation of higher education and the implications for them of this process. In particular, the paper explores the implications of learning mobility among BRICS nations. Based on UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) data on global flow of tertiary-level students, and the survey conducted among 200 students from five BRICS and five non-BRICS nations; it seems that even for students from BRICS, the bloc is not an attractive destination. With a history of only six years of cooperation, BRICS nations have not yet realised the potential for learning and research cooperation. There is however the potential for expanded internationalisation of higher education amongst them. This could be through multilateral cooperation by means of scholarships, grants for joint research projects and by regulated commercial activities, on the basis of common developmental priority areas. Robust learning and research cooperation would enhance knowledge development.

Keywords: higher education; internationalisation; Brazil; Russia; India; China; South Africa; BRICS countries; economic implications; policy implications; learning mobility; learning cooperation; research cooperation; scholarships; grants; joint research projects; commercial activities.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEED.2015.073164

International Journal of Education Economics and Development, 2015 Vol.6 No.3, pp.262 - 278

Received: 19 May 2015
Accepted: 09 Aug 2015
Published online: 25 Nov 2015 *

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