From Milan to Murmansk – Lisbon to Lake Louise: Conceptualizing the Meaning of Internationalization in Higher Education

Internationalization is an academic goal and quality measure in higher education, driven by governmental policies and target numbers of mobility, where quantitative measures are the norm. Discussions of what internationalization means and why it is regarded as important need further conceptualization in a higher education context. This is the first longitudinal autoethnography to discuss the meaning of internationalization. The present study makes noteworthy contributions to international higher education literature and practice. Based on the conceptual framework of value co-creation and consumer value theory, the study offers a conceptualization of internationalization. It establishes that internationalization cannot be driven by quantitative measures alone. Together these results provide important insight into what constitutes sustainability and resilience in higher education internationalization strategies. The study also proposes that internationalization relies on academics’ commitment and curiosity to engage in international value co-creation. Internationalization can only reach its full potential in higher education if its meaning is embedded in academic culture.