Learning mobility and internationalisation of higher education: Economic and policy implications for BRICS nations

This paper explores the ways BRICS nations deal with internationalisation of higher education and the implications for them of this process. In particular, the paper explores the implications of learning mobility among BRICS nations. Based on UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) data on global flow of tertiary-level students, and the survey conducted among 200 students from five BRICS and five non-BRICS nations; it seems that even for students from BRICS, the bloc is not an attractive destination. With a history of only six years of cooperation, BRICS nations have not yet realised the potential for learning and research cooperation. There is however the potential for expanded internationalisation of higher education amongst them. This could be through multilateral cooperation by means of scholarships, grants for joint research projects and by regulated commercial activities, on the basis of common developmental priority areas. Robust learning and research cooperation would enhance knowledge development.