Managing Internationalisaltion in Tertiary Education : A South-Afican – Swaziland Comparison

The increasing competitive and internationalised higher education environment has over recent years introduced a commercial focus to the sector. Although this allows universities to tap into an increasingly larger and potentially more lucrative market, it simultaneously ups the ante in respect of course quality and addressing student preferences. Overall tertiary institutions do not have a clear picture of what attracts students, particularly international students. Although there is consensus that ‘internationalisation’ adds to the marketability in the education environment more clarity is needed on the nuances of the concept and indeed the value these carry amongst students in terms of decision making. This paper considers responses of four hundred and six students in South-Africa and Swaziland in relation to the importance of academic and non-academic aspects of internationalisation of the institution. Overall, students are influenced in their choice decision by reasonable class fees, and courses offered of an international standard.