Los Changes in the internationalization strategies among Mexican higher education institutions due to Covid-19

Keywords: Internationalization; Higher Education; Covid-19.

Abstract

The Covid-19 pandemic forced higher education institutions (HEIs) to make changes in the management of their substantive functions and internationalization strategies. The purpuse of this research is to identify the changes in the internationalization strategies of Mexican HEIs. To achieve this objective a conceptual framework on internationalization strategies based on renowned authors was developed, an analysis of existing antecedents on internationalization strategies in Mexico was conducted and 25 HEIs officials were interviewed. Main findings indicate that physical mobility of students was quickly replaced with the support of virtuality, and that strategies for internationalization at home as well as international academic cooperation projects were strengthened. However, it is also clear that the mobility of faculty members and volunteering and international work experiences for students lacked virtual substitutes. It can also be said that the pandemic revealed the need to diversify internationalization strategies and that the impact of the forced transition to virtuality was differentiated among HEIs. Undoubtedly, the post-pandemic period will demand additional adjustments and it will be the level of consolidation, maturity, evaluation and institutionalization of the internationalization processes of HEIs that will determine the survival of the responses implemented to date.

Author Biographies

Magdalena L. Bustos-Aguirre, Universidad de Guadalajara (UdG), México

Ph.D. in Higher Education Management from the University of Guadalajara, full-time research professor of the Department of Tourism, Recreation and Service at  the University Center for Economic-Administrative Sciences, University of Guadalajara. Member of the National System of Researchers Level I. Research line: Management and internationalization of higher education.

Email: magdalena.bustos@cucea.udg.mx 

Rosa Vega Cano, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo (UMSNH), México

Doctora en Gestión de la Educación Superior. Profesora-investigadora de tiempo completo adscrita a la Facultad de Economía de la Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo. Principales temas de investigación: Responsabilidad Social Universitaria. Internacionalización de la educación superior. Educación superior y desarrollo sostenible. Perspectiva de género en las instituciones de educación superior.

Published
2021-11-15
How to Cite
Bustos-Aguirre, M. L., & Vega Cano, R. (2021). Los Changes in the internationalization strategies among Mexican higher education institutions due to Covid-19. Revista Educación Superior Y Sociedad (ESS), 33(2), 269-297. https://doi.org/10.54674/ess.v33i2.474