Collaborative Online International Learning In Brics Countries- A Comparative Perspective

Abstract

With the advent of globalization, internationalization has attained high significance amidst countries, in different industries and sectors, one of them being the higher education sector. This paper examines an emerging mode of internationalization of higher education viz., Collaborative Online International Learning and studies its adaptation in BRICS countries, the consequences of the same whether this mode is efficient or deficient in each of these countries. Consequently, this paper compares these countries to determine which of them have a comparative advantage with respect to adaptation of COIL and some of the areas in which the remaining countries can bring about improvements. Said comparison has been done on the basis of four parameters, viz., (i) policy backing; (ii) financial viability; (iii) linguistic barriers; and (iv) readiness to undertake COIL projects. Through this analysis, the paper posits that: Brazil is much ahead than its contemporaries with respect to the first parameter; India and South Africa lag as far as the second parameter is concerned; China and South Africa are not as linguistically prepared as their contemporaries; and lastly, that Russia shows the higher reluctance among its contemporaries with respect to undertaking COIL projects. Lastly, the paper recommends that COIL as a method for developing cooperation and collaboration between BRICS countries, be among the central foci in upcoming BRICS summits.