Higher Education in a Globalized World: The Case for Internationalizing Undergraduate Political Science Programs

Abstract

The internationalization of higher education appears to be a global strategic priority for universities. It is said to frame the institutional policies, student mobility trends and economic strategies. While high-income countries have dominated global education networks through branch campuses, transnational programs, and aggressive international student recruitment, low-income and middle-income countries, including Bangladesh, are actively developing localized internationalization models to attract international students. They are also able to retain domestic talent at the same time. This paper looks into various internationalization models applied in undergraduate political science education. It aims to evaluate their effectiveness in both high- and low-income settings. Highlighting student mobility trends, economic benefits, and risk factors associated with internationalization, this study focuses particularly on developing countries like Bangladesh. The study also discusses how social science disciplines such as sociology, psychology, anthropology, and economics have successfully achieved international perspectives integrated through joint degrees, virtual collaborations, multilingual programs, and cross-border fieldwork. The paper suggests that the Delphi Method can serve as a tool to implement policies to guide Bangladeshi educational leaders and policymakers.  Determining the most effective internationalization strategies is the key goal here. This research is targeted to deduce best practices conducted worldwide and regional economic considerations. Providing a roadmap for Bangladesh to strategically internationalize undergraduate political science programs is the main focus. Meanwhile mitigating risks such as brain drain, financial constraints, and geopolitical dependencies is also to be considered.