Abstract:

In this article the different strategies of internationalization of the African and South American institutions are analyzed, considering seven dimensions: articulated commitment, curricula, organizational infrastructure and communication, funding, investment and students. Based on a sample of 47 institutions from 16 countries, the results show that internationalization is taken as an important part of the current and future development of the institutions, being the articulated commitment the part that has been drawn more attention. As a general result, the process is more extended in South American than in African institutions with some exceptions inside this second continent. Due to the use of common strategies, it seems to exist a big ground for collaboration in the field of internationalization between the two areas. Finally, many steps are still needed for closing the gap from the theoretical intentions to the practical implementations of internationalization strategies. The fields of international students and international curricula still require important improvements where the associations of students should play a more relevant role in the process in order to complete the administrative approach.

Keywords:

Internationalization, higher education, Africa, South America, strategies.