Call for Papers “A Critical Look at Partnerships, Alliances and Networks”

Deadline: April 7, 2026

Internationalisation of Higher Education: Policy and Practice invites papers for a special issue on A Critical Look at Partnerships, Alliances and Networks.

International partnerships, alliances, consortia, networks, and agreements are essential for advancing global education, serving as a critical conduit for collaboration, innovation, and cross-cultural understanding. International education is, after all, built on a foundation of relationship building, nurturing, and sustainability. 

This special issue invites critical, evidence-based, and practice-informed contributions that examine how partnerships and alliances operate within higher education. We encourage authors to explore the following guiding questions: 

  • Do international partnerships and alliances create equitable access to global opportunities? 
  • How can international partnerships be strategically structured in a way that is equitable and inclusive? What strategies have proven effective? 
  • How innovative are European University Alliances (EUIs) in practice, and what do they contribute to internationalization? 
  • What other innovative or non-innovative alliances exist outside of the EUIs and how do they contribute in their own context? 
  • Consider comparative partnership models outside the EUIs and how benefits could be gained in a comparative analysis of global partnerships in the Global South or elsewhere. What can be learned from a global comparison? 
  • What strategies can be used to develop a sustainable and impactful network of partners? Should they focus on bilateral or multilateral partnerships, join global networks, or seek smaller, regionally focused collaborations? What characteristics of the partnership make it successful? 
  • How can partnerships be sustained over time, and what unintended consequences should leaders and practitioners consider as they assess and expand their international networks? 
  • What does it mean to build a truly inclusive portfolio of international partners? 

We welcome a range of critical perspectives that go beyond the conventional success narratives, focusing on challenges, overlooked issues, and untold aspects of international partnerships. We aim to foster dialogue that includes all angles on the role of privilege and power in the current landscape of higher education partnerships. 

 

 

Journal Description & Scope
Designed for internationalisation professionals, policymakers, and higher education leaders, Internationalisation of Higher Education – Policy and Practice examines internationalisation policies, processes, and activities, addressing key issues in the internationalisation of higher education and placing them in the context of global developments. The peer-reviewed journal focuses on how international, regional, national, and institutional policy changes, trends, and initiatives impact practice.
Emphasis on Practice
Oriented towards practitioners, the journal aims to fill the space between practice and research in the fields of internationalisation and HE. There is a special focus on the synthesis of academic research results for a practitioner-based audience. In addition, practitioners frequently make contributions to the journal as a means of sharing their experiences in the field and contributing to the development of best practices and the flow of information.
Invitation to New Authors
If you are a practitioner or researcher in the field of Higher Education, a new or previously published author, we encourage you to submit a manuscript to our journal. We accept new contributions on a variety of topics throughout the year. We also encourage contributions on specific topics. Please see below to find an open call for manuscripts on the topic of “migration and international students.”
For more information on submission guidelines, please click here.