International branch campus: Framework and strategy

Abstract

Internationalisation of higher education institutions (HEIs) is considered to be a top priority in institutional strategy development. Institutions are enhancing internationalisation to increase the quality of education and research, to expand the scope of these activities, to overcome the rivals, position themselves internationally, and diversify the income. The business models are increasingly transferred into HE practices. An international branch campus is one of the most risky and unexplored entry modes to international markets in higher education and the topic of interest around the globe, however little knowledge has been gathered about this internationalisation mode. The aim of this paper is to elaborate on the motives and rationales of establishing a branch campus abroad, and discuss this strategy as a way to create international presence of the HEI.