International program and provider mobility in higher education: Research trends, challenges and issues

Abstract

International program and provider mobility (IPPM) in higher education has grown exponentially in the last decade but there is a dearth of research on this phenomenon. This article analyzes the trends and key issues identified in published academic research on IPPM from 2000 to 2018. The review uses a newly developed IPPM Classification Framework for analysis, focussing on four different modes of IPPM – branch campuses, joint universities, franchise programs, and partnership programs. All reviewed 364 publications were categorized according to IPPM mode, major theme, geographical orientation, type of research, publications source, and publication date. The findings illustrate the mass confusion which exists as to how international mobility activities are labelled and categorized. The findings also inform a call for more IPPM-focussed research on outcomes and impact, teaching and learning issues, and national-level regulations. Higher education researchers, policy makers, IPPM managers and faculty members will find the analysis useful and somewhat surprising.