Reflections on women in internationalization

Abstract

Today, internationalization is among the most important strategic goals of higher education. In this context, academicians hold a significant place in academic knowledge exchange since they constitute the key mechanism in internationalization. Despite this fact, female academicians continue to be underrepresented in the internationalization of higher education. Considering the emphasis on Sustainable Development Goal 5, which states that gender equality is the basis of sustainable development for all individuals until 2030, it is clear that women faculty members should be supported more in the internationalization process of the higher education. Further studies are required to determine how much of the inequalities experienced by women academics in terms of international academic mobility, visibility, and international publication opportunities are being transferred to international academic environment. For this reason, the present article aims to investigate the representation of female academicians in the internationalization of higher education from a feminist theory approach. Results of our study clearly indicate that there is a need for new policies in terms of the "visibility" of female faculty members in higher education in the world.

 

Keywords: Internationalization; female academicians; gender inequality.