Internationalization of education and the experiences of international students: what is known

Abstract

As the number of international students crossing borders from the Global South to study in the Global North continues to grow, there is a call for an appropriate response to the needs of this category of Canadian immigrants. Using the theoretical framework of border crossing, in this paper, I examine the historical and contemporary contexts of the internationalization of education and what is known about the experiences of international students. In this paper, I also utilize the ideas of border crossing to examine the links between the experiences of the borderlands by international students and the impacts on their multiple identities. In conclusion, I suggest a radical position instead of a rhetorical approach on issues affecting international students, which includes creating an inclusive environment that embraces openness to differences and fosters the true spirit of equity and diversity. A desirable approach is to build a learning environment that facilitates a sense of belonging for all students.