Talking Point

The magic carpet of borderless education is here. As this sector joins the globalisation bandwagon, there are trends and multiple learning to follow. Of interest to note that the crossover mobility is taking place full steam, both in the real and virtual domain.

However, to make the impact of globalisation on education truly positive, apart from the seamless transfer of knowledge, a balanced meshing of culture, people and economy across different borders is necessary, to be dealt with caution and care.

In this two-part series, here is our perspective of the situation.

One world: The globalisation mantra is catching up thick and fast in education sector. As identified in our article In Reading Between the Lines, this trend is only going to consolidate further. Quality education as a catalyst to move swifter – higher – stronger for a better worklife is now well established amongst the learning community.

The phenomenon of borderless education has given a new impetus to the learning culture in opening up new opportunities and vistas of hope. With eminent universities of the world opening up greenfield campuses in different countries, new learning hubs are coming up and gaining in demand with students and educators. The redefined academic topography now spreads over newer countries and continents across the world.

Apart from the traditional beaten track destinations for the univs in US/UK/Australia, now even places like in central Asia, Caribbean islands are getting into the preferred list of locale for educational pursuits.

The emerging dynamics: The physical movement of students abroad in search of higher learning excellence is but only one aspect of the borderless education phenomenon. The term ‘cross-border’, often interchangeably used with ‘border-less’ education involves, in a single or collective sense the movement across national boundaries of students, educators, institutions, course curriculum, programs, projects and services. It also involves various forms – from having campus education to e-learning using ICT.

The notable ways by which the cross over movements has been taking shape can be broadly classified under the virtual and real operative domain. E-learning or it’s blend with campus learning defines the virtual landscape while real movement of men and/or material is involved in the other case – primarily due to students / educators migrating to other countries and institutions from abroad offering courses in home countries by alliance, partnership, franchising arrangements with local bodies. More specifically:

• Through e-learning / distance education, virtual classrooms on the net. Examples like: 
  • IGNOU Online - from registration to certification, a complete e-platform based education portal provides courses under the national open university system of India
  • OUA - a consortium owned by seven leading universities of Australia for online higher education service
• Students & educators travelling abroad to conventional & newer centres of learning. The initiatives to open branch campuses in other countries by eminent institutions have given rise to newer destinations of learning. Examples like:
  • Johns Hopkins University - full time campuses in US and in Italy, Singapore, China.
  • INSEAD - campuses in Fontainebleau France & Singapore and centre for education and research in Abu Dhabi and Israel
  • DKV - Dubai knowledge village, an educational campus in higher education in UAE, where universities from a number of countries with a branch in DKV, from Australia, Belgium, Canada, India, Iran, Ireland, Pakistan, Russia, UK provide educational facilities for students from all nationalities.
•  Localisation through alliances / franchising. Examples like:
  • ISB – a management institute from India, ranked second among Asian business schools by FT London this year, in academic alliance with the Wharton School, Kellogg School of Management and London Business School provides international faculty and curriculum courses.
  • NIIT – an IT solutions company from India offers learning to individuals, institutions and enterprises in 40 countries of the world across continents by leveraging tie-up / collaboration with partners for global presence.

As seen, the education sector under rapid transformation is underway to globalization. It is a new interconnected world of great promise provided the other ramifications of globalization are kept under harness.

Image Credit: midom

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