How might we re-think international students in online and digital education?

Dr. Jenna Mittelmeier (Manchester) 

Abstract: International students are a group of rising prominence in online and digital higher education, although there is, at present, limited systematic data about their numbers worldwide. International students in these contexts occupy an interesting “third space,” whereby they commonly remain within their home environment and surroundings while simultaneously studying from an institution based abroad. This means that many of the lenses used to frame and categorize international students in face-to-face settings – mobility, visas, and citizenship – are found problematic in online distance settings. This session reflects on these issues to outline complexities in categorizing international students in online and digital higher education and the ways that their experiences may be distinct from international students who are geographically mobile. In particular, critical reflections will be made about how existing practices often frame international students through problematic lenses or take shallow approaches to internationalisation. The session ends with a reflection on gaps in current research and suggestions for practitioners who work with international students in online and digital settings.

Bio: Dr Jenna Mittelmeier is Senior Lecturer in International Education at the University of Manchester, where her research focuses broadly on the internationalisation of higher education. She is particularly interested in the experiences of and practices with international students, including the ethical internationalisation of curricula and pedagogies. She convenes the Internationalisation Practitioner Network and is lead editor for the recently published book Research with International Students: Critical Conceptual and Methodological Considerations.