Degree Mobility in the Higher Education Context: Could the English Language be a Key Driver of Internationalisation?

Abstract

Nowadays, as higher education institutions strive for gaining reputation and increasing their visibility, the notion of internationalisation within the higher education systems continues to attract increasing attention. In particular, the influence of internationalisation on the linguistic landscape of European higher education appears to be far-reaching. Whereas the European Union policies have backed up the idea of multilingualism, the ambition of higher education institutions to draw more accomplished students has boosted the status of English as the lingua franca and medium of instruction. In a similar vein, literature on internationalisation has linked internationalisation to greater degree and credit mobility and extensive use of English as the medium of instruction. Competitiveness in the academic market, in particular, might have caused a considerable number of higher education institutions to associate the notion of internationalisation with Englishisation. While these pressures cement the position of English as the medium of instruction and scholarly activities, this article examines the possible relationships among internationalisation, degree mobility, Englishisation, and language policies in the light of the OECD 2019 and 2020 data. The article also considers several crucial implications for internationalisation that have become increasingly relevant especially during the Covid-19 pandemic period.

Keywords

• degree mobility
• internationalisation
• higher education
• Englishisation
• English-medium instruction (EMI)

Yükseköğretim Bağlamında Derece Hareketliliği: İngilizce Uluslararasılaşmada Önemli Bir Etmen Olabilir Mi?

Öz

Günümüzde yükseköğretim kurumları üniversite sıralama listelerinde yukarı tırmanmak, itibar ve görünürlük kazanmak için çabalarken, yükseköğretim sistemlerindeki uluslararasılaşma kavramı gittikçe daha fazla ilgi çekmektedir. Uluslararasılaşmanın özellikle Avrupa yükseköğretim sisteminin dilsel yapısı üzerindeki etkisi derin olmuştur. Avrupa Birliği politikaları çok dillilik fikrini açıkça desteklemiş olsa da yükseköğretim kurumlarının daha yetenekli ve başarılı öğrencileri çekme arzusu, öğretim dili olarak İngilizcenin statüsünü güçlendirmiştir. Benzer şekilde, uluslararasılaşma literatürü bu kavramı daha fazla derece ve kredi hareketliliği ve İngilizcenin öğretim dili olarak kullanılması ile ilişkilendirmiştir. Akademik pazardaki rekabet, önemli sayıda yükseköğretim kurumunun uluslararasılaşma kavramını açık bir şekilde İngilizce ile ilişkilendirmesine neden olmuş olabilir. Bu baskılar, eğitim ve bilimsel faaliyetlerde İngilizcenin statüsünü sağlamlaştırırken, bu makale OECD 2019 ve 2020 verileri ışığında uluslararasılaşma, derece hareketliliği, İngilizceleşme ve dil politikaları arasındaki potansiyel ilişkileri incelemektedir. Makale ayrıca, özellikle COVID-19 pandemi döneminde uluslararasılaşma ile ilgili giderek daha fazla önem kazanan birkaç hususu değerlendirmektedir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• derece hareketliliği
• uluslararasılaşma
• yükseköğretim
• İngilizceleşme
• eğitim dili olarak İngilizce

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