Xenophobia in higher education in South Africa

Naturally, universities are international institutions. In the event of reports of xenophobic attacks across the South African communities, the universities were not spared. Imperial study results have confirmed such tendencies globally with great concern especially its effects on safety, growth, and development of countries. The aim of the chapter is to explore and describe the extent of xenophobic attacks within the higher education institutions in South Africa. This is presented from an inside-out approach aligned with the bio-ecological systems theory of human development. The theory provided a lens to view the biological factors of development within the family, the outside environment such as the community, universities, and government as influences of continuation and the stopping of xenophobic attacks in the higher education. Continuous stakeholder awareness and education on the acceptance and integration of foreign students is recommended. Additionally, strategies to enhance the integration of foreign students by the international offices in the universities is recommended.