Examining the various aspects of internationalization of education was Dr. P. J. Lavakare, Senior Adviser in India, Institute of International Education (IIE-US), who delivered an institute-wide lecture at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) on 11 November 2015. Speaking on "Internationalization of Higher Education and its impact on Developing Countries: The Indian Experience," Dr. Lavakare stated that the number of students studying outside their home countries has increased from three million in 2006 to five million in 2014. While the number of international students from China continues to increase, there has been a decline in the number of international students from India.
Dr. Lavakare mentioned that international education has become a top money-earner for many countries with the United States earning 27 billion USD every year. Australia will 19.1 billion AUD, and the United Kingdom with 8.5 billion pounds are among the major beneficiaries of this trend. However, diversity of destinations of international students is increasing and countries like China are now home to seven per cent of international students. He also named numerous international educational initiatives like the China Education Initiative of the US, the study abroad programs of Russia and Japan, and the Brazil scientific mobility program as examples of internationalization.
Quoting from the Fourth Global Survey conducted by the Institute of International Education (IIE), he cited tops benefits and risks of internationalization of education. Increased international awareness of students, improved quality of teaching and learning, strengthening research and knowledge production capacity, enhanced international cooperation, and increased internationalization of curriculum were the benefits, cited by the IIE survey. Among the perceived risks were commodification and commercialization of education, unequal sharing of benefits of internationalization, and growing gaps within higher education within individual countries.
Dr. Lavakare was accompanied by Dr. Jonathan Lembright, IIE's Regional Director for Southeast Asia, and Dr. Sheela Lavakare, former faculty member, Management Development Institute, Delhi, India. Prior to the lecture, the delegation met with AIT President Prof. Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai, and members of the AIT administration
Photo caption: Dr. P. J. Lavakare