‘The Shape of Global Higher Education’ report was launched at the 2018 Going Global conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on May 2.

It is the third in the series, which aims to build collective knowledge and understanding of HE policy and legislation in various countries.

“Promotion and support of international student mobility is a priority for many ASEAN nations”

The report focuses on the 10 ASEAN member states: Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Brunei, Indonesia, Cambodia, the Philippines, Singapore, Myanmar and Laos. 

The report noted that particularly Malaysia, but also Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia, Brunei, Singapore and Thailand compare favourably with countries from across the world, in terms of the policies and infrastructure provided to support international HE.

It revealed that national strategies for expanding and supporting international HE engagement are often firmly embedded within other national plans, and linked to the countries’ economic priorities. 

“In Cambodia for example”, the report stated, “the international higher education strategy is linked with other policy areas and strategies focusing on growth, employment, equity and socio-economic and industrial development”.

It continued: “Promotion and support of international student mobility is a priority for many ASEAN nations and underpins a number of measures in place to support student mobility.”

Speaking about the report, head of Higher Education Systems Research at British Council Michael Peak said international HE is of clear national and regional importance within ASEAN. 

“The region, although diverse in many ways, including in terms of the size of the economy, and the relative ‘maturity’ of the HE systems, is united by a desire to engage further in international higher education,” he added.

To view photos from the Going Global pre-departure reception, see here