Internationalisation-at-home for STEM students in Chinese non-elite universities: The contradictions and potential changes

This study presents a novel evaluation of Internationalisation-at-Home (IaH) in Chinese non-elite universities, addressing gaps in existing research which has largely focused on international mobility and explored internationalisation within Western contexts or elite institutions. Grounded in Activity Theory (AT), this research employed two case studies (PRDU and GXPU) through semi-structured interviews with 29 STEM students.The findings highlight the multifaceted impact of IaH, including curriculum transformation, student and academic development, income generation, enhancement of institutional reputation, and democratisation of access beyond elite mobility. Compared with established internationalisation frameworks in Western contexts, IaH in Chinese institutions face challenges such as balancing local needs and addressing lower levels of English proficiency. Non-elite universities face additional constraints, including limited government support, lower student Gaokao scores, entrenched traditional practices, and reduced attractiveness to international partners, students, and faculty.The study identifies contradictions between traditional, large-class, teacher-centred pedagogies and the student-centred approaches required by IaH. Tensions are evident between collectivist educational norms shaped by Confucian learning beliefs and the emphasis on individual autonomy and critical thinking promoted by IaH initiatives. Other conflicts include resistance to skill-based assessments over memorisation-oriented methods, the integration of internationally relevant content into outdated curricula, and the preparedness of local faculty to deliver intercultural education effectively. These findings also highlight key characteristics of STEM disciplines, including the need for alignment with technological advancements.A further contribution lies in the innovative adaptation of the activity system framework within the IaH context, focusing on human-centred roles rather than the automated systems typical of computer design. The study identifies how the Division of Labour is mediated by Tools and Rules and norms in ways unique to human actors.The findings demonstrate that analysing contradictions can inform IaH policy and strategy development in China and other developing contexts, offering insights into global discourses on internationalisation.