The Future of Internationalization in Higher Education

Considering International Educational Exchange in the Post-COVID Era

Abstract

　 The internationalization of universities and international education have progressed by quantitatively expanding the international mobility of students. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic which began in early 2020, the physical movement of students across borders has been suspended.

　 This article reviews the status of and issues for international education before the COVID-19 pandemic. It then explores methods and practices of international educational exchange using ICT which are spreading rapidly during the COVID-19 crisis. It goes on to discuss the possibilities and directions for international education in the post-COVID era. Considering not only infectious disease countermeasures but also the environmental impact of international travel, a new modality of international educational exchange that does not rely on international physical mobility is required to respond to the new normal. The ability to find innovative approaches to the internationalization of universities in the post-COVID era will have a significant impact on the reputation and attractiveness of higher education in each country.