Higher Education Internationalisation in Latin America and the Caribbean: Away from a comprehensive approach

Our analysis overviews the current status of the internationalisation of higher education in Latin America and the Caribbean from a comparative, interregional, and global perspective. A description of the main characteristics of the process is provided, based on the main findings that emerged from the most recent global and regional surveys conducted by the International Association of Universities; and the UNESCO Chair Internationalisation of Higher Education and Global Citizenship at the University of Guadalajara. We note an important increase in internationalisation activities and committed engagement by academia and institutions. However, critical shortcomings hinder the region from reaping wider benefits from global higher education internationalisation. This is mainly due to limited planning and evaluation; insufficient financing mechanisms and little academic and student mobility; incipient curricular internationalisation and minimal international cooperation in research. Drawing on our analysis, we conclude by proposing steps that higher education institutions in the region should pursue in order to implement a new approach to internationalisation, more comprehensive and inclusive. Assessment on the progress and challenges of the internationalisation process are key for decision making on policy design.