The Rationale and Strategies of University Internationalisation: The Case of University of Ghana

Abstract

There is no doubt that internationalisation has assumed one of the key critical factors in the changing dynamics of higher education institutions around the globe over the last three to four decades. This has become a major concern for most universities in the 21st century to become visible on the global scale i.e to transcend beyond the boundaries of their countries in which they operate. Despite the assumed problematic and subjective concept of internationalisation and World Class University, most universities are subscribing to such labels. In its approach to enhance its internationalisation process, the University of Ghana which is the largest in Ghana and reputable in Africa in its internationalisation ambition aim to become a world class university. The study is curious and intrigued at how higher education institutions adopt imported concept or notion (for example World Class University) as a strategy. This is because one should not assume the semblance of imported organizational templates as mere institutional isomorphism due to internationalisation and globalization. Hence there is the need to look closely at how such imported concept is indigenized. Hence the key research question(s) examined are (1) what are the rationale(s) behind University of Ghana's quest of internationalisation? (2) what are strategies being adopted at the University of Ghana towards it ambition of its internationalisation drive?