Abstract

This analysis draws attention to the descriptions and expectations historically associated with international education by governmental actors and international students, as they express some of the reasons for the presence of international students in Western universities. This research suggests that the contemporary clustering of international students in Western universities reflects the historical conceptualizations and regulatory actions of Western states that have come to form and develop current understandings of what international education means and how it should be governed. An analysis of descriptions of international education in historical perspective reveals that this type of education was expected by Western governments, during the colonial period and the Cold War, to serve Western agendas. During these periods, high expectations were associated with international education, as this type of education was to help achieve ambitious goals such as Westernizing colonial subjects or containing Communist ideologies. A contemporary analysis of governmental activities and individual views still reflects the trend of high expectations associated with international education, transforming this type of education into a ‘golden solution’ of sorts, described as capable of solving a variety of timely issues, from offering students the possibility to become internationally mobile workers to helping governments in the war against global terrorism.