Transnational students and (im)mobilities in Hong Kong

Abstract

The last 10 years have seen the deepening and expansion of the process of internationalisation in relation to higher education (HE). There are many different aspects to this, including the proliferation of language schools catering to international students, 'satellite' university campuses, distance- or e-learning, international MBA programmes, and the development of national education 'brands'. Governments and HE institutions are becoming increasingly entrepreneurial when it comes to promoting their educational 'products' overseas. The international mobility of tertiary-level students is one of the more conspicuous elements of internationalisation in relation to HE. In this paper, we draw upon the preliminary findings of a research project examining another facet of internationalisation - the increasing overseas presence of UK higher education institutions (HEIs) in East Asia. More specifically, we consider here the experiences of students in Hong Kong undertaking 'British' degree programmes (in situ). We discuss their decision-making around attaining a British degree, their experiences of their programme to date, and their plans on completion of their degree. Conceptually, the paper considers the relationship between international higher education and (im)mobility. Transnational educational programmes of the kind reported here ostensibly undermine the assumed relationship between overseas education and international travel. We consider the extent to which physical mobility is integral to the experience of international education.