Stakeholders’ Perspectives on Implementing “Internationalization at Home” for China’s International Education Sustainability: Challenges and Strategies

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine stakeholders’ perspectives on implementing “internationalization at home” for international education sustainability in China in the post-epidemic era. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 26 (12 male and 14 female) participants to explore their opinions on the challenges of and strategies for the implementation of “internationalization at home” in higher education institutions. It was found that an institutional international curriculum mechanism construction is needed. The cross-cultural teaching capacity of faculty members needs to be promoted. Funding resources and organizational guarantees need to be provided. International campus environments and cultures need to be built. The discussion and conclusions are provided in the last section.

Adjustment to Chinese Culture and Mental Health Issues among Foreign Students on Chinese University Campuses during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Collaborative Ethnographic Study

“…The difficulty of adjusting to a Chinese cultural context for international students is due more to the psychological and behavioral resistance caused by the unknown and uncertain. Therefore, in future research on the diversity of international students in China, we should also consider the educational objectives of international students in China, promote their understanding of Chinese culture in an all-round way, and pay attention to the coexistence of rationality and sensibility and to the coexistence of heterogeneity and experience [47]. Promoting international students' understanding of Chinese culture can play an important role in the development of international students' education, bilateral economic cooperation, China's soft power, and China's international image communication.…”

Implementation of international project management at the educational establishment

“…This strategy provides a roadmap that aligns the institution's goals with global initiatives, ensuring that international projects contribute to the overall mission and vision of the institution. Developing a clear internationalization strategy include needs assessment to understand why internationalization is important for the institution (Melin, 1992); defining the objectives and goals of the internationalization strategy (Alpenidze, 2015); involvement of key stakeholders, including faculty, students, administrators, and external partners, in the development of the internationalization strategy (Li & Xue, 2023); evaluation of the institution's resources, both financial and human, as well as its technological infrastructure, to determine the capacity for managing international projects (Moshtari & Safarpour, 2023); identification of specific regions or countries that align with the goals of the institution's internationalization efforts (Melin, 1992); development of a strategic action plan; integration of internationalization into curriculum and programs; promoting student and faculty mobility; implementation of evaluation and monitoring mechanisms.…”