Reinventing international higher education for a socially just, sustainable world

Post-pandemic, there is a growing recognition that higher education needs to take a more proactive role in addressing the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals – the 17  goals for 2030 that aim to balance global economic development with the need to tackle  climate change and protect our natural ecosystems. This change of focus has profound  implications for international higher education. For universities in countries like Australia,  New Zealand and the UK, internationalisation has underpinned a successful business model.  Recruiting children of wealthy elites in developing countries and charging them high tuition  fees allows universities to invest in research and facilities and drive themselves up global  rankings tables. But recruiting students from the Global South imposes an environmental  cost in terms of the carbon footprint and perpetuates structural inequality. This article  explores solutions to moving beyond the current business model and adopting an  internationalisation strategy that prioritises social justice and environmental sustainability.