The view from the other side: How domestic students make sense of internationalisation of Malaysian higher education

The international student population is seen as an important economic contributor for Malaysia. The State is committed to the cause, through the launch of policies and sector-specific strategies that address internationalisation as an important agenda for the country. Higher education institutions are also strengthening internationalisation initiatives, not only to increase revenue generated from the incoming flow of students, but also to attain favourable placings in global university rankings.

Based on available data on international student mobility, Malaysia is doing considerably well in attracting students from specific regions of the world. There is also distinctive differentiation between the type of international students recruited into public and private higher education institutions. However, little is known on how domestic students perceive internationalisation. It also remains unclear whether domestic students experience a heightened sense of global citizenship as a result of their international exposure on campus.

This webinar discusses current developments in Malaysia with regard to internationalisation of higher education, and presents a study on the perception of domestic students on internationalisation in a Malaysian public research university. Through focus group discussions, respondents discussed on the presence of international students, the university’s rise in international rankings, their interactions with international students and staff, and the lessons learnt from their experience. Findings of the study provide insights on the ways in which higher education institutions should be more inclusive of domestic students in strategies for institutional internationalisation.