IBC//Spaces
Globalising universities can be understood as economic actors engaging in the symbolic, social, and material construction of transnational spaces of higher education. The construction of international branch campus (IBCs), spatially concentrated in “education cities” in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Singapore, or Malaysia, are particularly visible expressions of internationalisation and marketization strategies in the contemporary knowledge economy. These spaces function as crystallisation points of globalisation, embedded in translocal networks and flows of people, knowledge and capital. Simultaneously, they are embedded in place-based local, urban and national development strategies. We conduct a multi-scalar and multi-sited research project, drawing on different perspectives in human geography, to map, understand, and contribute to debates on the geographies of globalisation of higher education.
The project is funded by the Leibniz Association's
Best Minds Competition 2018.
TEAM and Partners
Jana Maria Kleibert
Tim Rottleb
Alice Bobée
Marc Schulze
Neil Coe
Bas van Heur
IBC//spaces
IBS//spaces
Latest activities
Tim Rottleb on ‘Gateway cities for transnational higher education’ in the Arab Gulf at 34. Deutscher Orientalistentag
On 15 September Tim presented his research on the transnational higher education (TNE) strategies of governments in the Arab Gulf region during the 34. Deutscher Orientalistentag (DOT) which took place at Freie Universität Berlin. The DOT is an interdisciplinary conference bringing together a very diverse range of social sciences and humanities researching societies in Asia Read more about Tim Rottleb on ‘Gateway cities for transnational higher education’ in the Arab Gulf at 34. Deutscher Orientalistentag[…]
TRANSEDU team and the geographies of higher education at the RGS-IBG Annual International Conference 2022, Newcastle
This year’s RGS-IBG conference was rich in multiple sessions and presentations discussing the various angles for researching the multi-scalar and multi-locational geographies of higher education. In addition to continuing efforts of geographers to unpack the complex and ever shifting mobilities of students in the globalizing higher education landscape, the sessions showed how higher education and Read more about TRANSEDU team and the geographies of higher education at the RGS-IBG Annual International Conference 2022, Newcastle[…]
Upcoming session at RGS-IBG 2022 in Newcastle: Geographies of TNE and the Knowledge-based Economy
Join us at our session at the RGS-IBG Annual International Conference 2022. The session will be run in a hybrid format to enable both remote and in-person participation in Newcastle. Convenors: Marc Schulze, Tim Rottleb (Leibniz Institute for Research on Society and Space) and Michael Hoyler (Loughborough University) Higher education institutions are critical examples through Read more about Upcoming session at RGS-IBG 2022 in Newcastle: Geographies of TNE and the Knowledge-based Economy[…]
Southeast and East Asia Science Week for Young Academics at Osnabrück University
In late June 2022 Marc got the chance to participate in the Science Week for Young Academics at Osnabrück University. The Science Week hosted young academics from/doing research on East and Southeast Asia and discussed contemporary dynamics and challenges via conference, workshop and excursion formats. Marc also presented some of his latest research at the Read more about Southeast and East Asia Science Week for Young Academics at Osnabrück University[…]
Transedu at the 2022 Global Conference on Economic Geography
Early June the Transedu team headed to Dublin to attend the 6th Global Conference on Economic Geography. Besides various opportunities to exchange with scholars in the discipline and attend presentations on the latest research in the field, Alice, Tim and Marc also presented their current work. Alice presented a working paper, in which she takes Read more about Transedu at the 2022 Global Conference on Economic Geography[…]
Bobée and Kleibert (2022): Choose France! Containment, circulation and postcolonial (dis)continuities in transnational education
We contribute to a post-colonial analysis of transnational education, by empirically analysing the extent to which French offshore campuses in Africa constitute a break with or rather a continuation of (post)colonial higher education geographies and student mobilities. Showing how French offshore campuses do not simply enact French policies but increasingly adapt their strategies to competitive Read more about Bobée and Kleibert (2022): Choose France! Containment, circulation and postcolonial (dis)continuities in transnational education[…]
Erkner Encounter #9 with Dr Lee Rensimer, CGHE
On 10 May 2022 the TRANSEDU team met with Dr Lee Rensimer for a digital Erkner Encounter. Lee is a postdoctoral research fellow at the Centre for Global Higher Education (CGHE) at UCL’s Faculty of Education and Society. In his academic work, in which he particularly focuses on the context of the United Arab Emirates Read more about Erkner Encounter #9 with Dr Lee Rensimer, CGHE[…]
Tim Rottleb presenting at Cosmopolis Lunch Seminar in Brussels
As part of a one month research stay at the Cosmopolis Centre for Urban Research at the Department of Geography of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Tim Rottleb presented the conceptual stage of a paper during a session of the Cosmopolis Lunch Seminar series on 31 March 2022. The working title of the paper is “Gateway Read more about Tim Rottleb presenting at Cosmopolis Lunch Seminar in Brussels[…]
Marc Schulze and Tim Rottleb give a talk during the 5th MENA HELF Forum
On 24 March Marc Schulze and Tim Rottleb were invited to participate in a hybrid panel during the 5th MENA Higher Education Leadership Forum taking place online and in Dubai. The bi-annual forum brings together higher education leaders and decision makers from across the globe, and engages them in discussion on the latest trends, developments Read more about Marc Schulze and Tim Rottleb give a talk during the 5th MENA HELF Forum[…]
Policy Paper: Developing Successful Transnational Education Hubs
As governments across the globe seek to enhance the competitiveness of theircountries through advancing knowledge-intensive industries, the global demand for international higher education is growing. To satisfy this growing demand in the knowledge-based economy, some governments seek to position their countries (or particular cities) as an education hub, a centre for (higher) learning and knowledge Read more about Policy Paper: Developing Successful Transnational Education Hubs[…]