Paradox or Parody? Globalisation and Internationalisation of Higher Education

An ongoing study on international university co-operation has been conducted to classify international university organizations by purpose and administrative patterns. Between the years from 1996-2008, surveys were sent to over 600 international university organizations worldwide in which respondents were asked to classify their entity. Surveys were in part designed to identify patterns between types of international university organizations. While characteristics were found which distinguish unique qualities, a further analysis has been undertaken to determine whether such entities evolved as a consequence of globalization (i.e. massification, transnational regulatory frameworks, ICT networks and knowledge banks) or because of economic imperative related to internationalization strategies. The paper suggests that globalization and internationalization policies and practices converge as well as diverge around the world and accordingly are fundamentally different in both response and action. Drawing upon data collected, the analysis considers the significance of higher education in economic returns to the nation-state, the influence of global governance and high technology, and current issues involving access, equity, and quality in higher education.