Internationalization of Higher Education in a Multipolar World: Insights from Professor Futao Huang
Futao Huang is a professor at the Research Institute for Higher Education at Hiroshima University in Japan. His research interests include the internationalisation of higher education, academic professions, and the comparative study of higher education systems. This thought-provoking event was moderated by Maksim Nikitin, Deputy Dean for Global Engagement. The discussants were Lizhou Wang, Assistant Professor at the Institute for Advanced Study of Waseda University, Japan and Evgenii Terentev, Dean of the HSE Institute of Education.
The presentation addressed five key questions: how internationalization is changing in a more fragmented world, how countries respond to common geopolitical pressures, what new models are emerging, how universities balance openness and security, and what the future of internationalization may look like.
Drawing on comparative policy analysis, Professor Huang examined the higher education systems of China, the United States, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and the United Kingdom. These cases demonstrate how different countries respond to similar global pressures and develop distinct approaches to international engagement.
Internationalization is not converging toward a single model. It is becoming increasingly differentiated", noted Professor Huang.
Prof Huang highlighted that, although countries are following different trajectories, several common trends are emerging. These include growing attention to security issues, more selective approaches to international cooperation, stronger regional partnerships, expanding research governance and greater strategic responsibilities for universities. He also discussed broader changes in the global knowledge landscape, noting that, historically, global knowledge production was concentrated in North America and Western Europe; however, today, we are witnessing the emergence of multiple knowledge centres.
Finally, Professor Huang outlined possible futures for internationalization, emphasizing that it is likely to be characterised by managed openness rather than unrestricted globalization or complete decoupling. He added that:
The challenge is no longer whether universities should internationalize, but how they can sustain meaningful global engagement in a fragmented world”.
During the discussion, Dr. Lizhou Wang emphasized the value of the comparative perspective presented in the talk, raising questions about whether current policy developments in East Asia are likely to foster greater regional integration or lead to new forms of fragmentation. Evgenii Terentev highlighted the importance of further research on managed openness and its implications for future international collaboration.
The HSE Institute of Education thanks Professor Futao Huang, the discussants, and all participants for an engaging discussion. The Open Seminar on Education continues to provide a platform for dialogue on current issues in education research and policy. Researchers interested in presenting their work at future seminars are welcome to share their studies with colleagues.
