Drivers of Internationalization in Higher Education at the Periphery: The Cases of Romania and Portugal

Governments and higher education institutions see internationalization of higher education as one of the main factors that influence strategic endeavours in the years to come. When looking at the national level, the drivers of internationalization are linked to economic and geo-political positioning, cultural influences, as well as international competitiveness for knowledge and human capital. Other political areas (e.g. foreign affairs, economy, immigration) also play a big role in shaping country level approaches. Institutionally, prestige factors, disciplinary or constitutive groups’ interests and financial imperatives predominantly drive internationalization policies. The mismatch between drivers of internationalization policies at national and institutional levels is bound to create misalignment of corresponding policies. The paper will look at such instances of misfit between national and institutional strategic pursuits in the field of internationalization of higher education in the case of two countries geographically positioned at the extremities of Europe: Romania and Portugal. The conclusion will include policy lessons on whether the current attempts of strategically developing policies for internationalization match the national and institutional contexts, aims and future objectives. Particular consideration will be given to the role of national/ institutional internationalization policy misfits in fulfilling strategic objectives at either level.