Global perspectives, local realities: A sustainable internationalization framework for higher education in Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand

This study examines the internationalization of higher education in Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand by situating global internationalization trends within distinct political, institutional, and capacity constraints. Drawing on Knight’s 4Ps framework and a systematic review of literature (2017–2026), the study analyzes policy documents, institutional reports, and comparative cases to explore how higher education institutions in Global South negotiate internationalization pressures. The findings reveal that internationalization across the three countries is uneven, selective, and shaped by local conditions, including limited institutional capacity in Laos, political instability and crisis-driven mobility in Myanmar, and stratified system expansion in Thailand. Regional integration and cross-border mobility emerge as critical dynamics, particularly between Myanmar and Thailand, challenging policy-centric models of internationalization. Based on these insights, the study proposes a Sustainable Internationalization Framework that explains how global agendas interact with local realities, offering a context-sensitive analytical lens for internationalization in Southeast Asia and comparable Global South settings.