This article presents a reflection on the results of the 5th IAU Global Survey to help understand to what extent the internationalization of higher education has become a strategic process at higher education institutions (HEIs) around the world. The results of the survey seem to indicate that a strategic approach to internationalization is indeed common at the majority of HEIs. Although encouraging, the results show that there is still room for improvement when it comes to financial resources and monitoring and evaluation. They also show a risk of increasing inequality between HEIs.

Until recently, internationalisation of higher education was largely considered an end in itself. In the past few years, however, the conversation has changed considerably, and internationalisation is framed as a means of improving the quality of education and research as well as serving larger social goals.

“Inequality is a word that has recently dominated public discourse, mainly with regard to its economic meaning of income and wealth inequality, but also in terms of social and educational inequality. Many researchers and organisations around the world have addressed the subject of inequality, and its reduction within and among countries is one of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 10).“