Internationalization Of Higher Education And How It Can Be Used To Promote And Progress Sustainable Development In Africa

Abstract

This thesis aims to show how internationalization of higher education can be used to increase access and quality of higher education in Africa and how more and better education can be used to achieve sustainable development for African countries. Aspects of the internationalization of higher education, such as mobility and the use of technology already benefit African higher education. However, at the moment they come with numerous challenges, inefficiencies, and negative consequences. The thesis will provide possible solutions to the most severe problems to use the internationalization of higher education to its full potential in Africa. The literature review has led to the conclusion that special focus should be paid to reducing the language barrier and to ensuring cultural adaptation of imported learning materials and curricula. Furthermore, focused funding and increased cooperation between African nations, should help improve the infrastructure, allow for parallel educational and economic development, and reduce the currently experienced negative consequences of mobility.