Responding to crises in transnational education: new challenges for higher education

Abstract

This paper is based on a case study of an Australian university involved in the delivery of transnational programs in an educational environment that has been increasingly characterized by commercial considerations. The researchers conducted focus group interviews with both general and academic staff to ascertain the personal, academic and administrative issues affecting the delivery of educational programs in Asia that arose as a result of one particular crisis in 2003: the SARS epidemic. The findings indicate that both administrative and academic staff felt personally and professionally challenged by the complexity of the issues involved in interrupting the pattern of transnational teaching. Potentially conflicting rationales emerged through the focus group discussions, with administrative staff expressing concern with maintaining services, while lecturers articulated a preoccupation with the safeguarding of assessment standards.

Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge the comments and suggestions for revision made by the two anonymous HERD reviewers.

Notes

* Corresponding author. School of International Business, University of South Australia, GPO Box 2471, Adelaide, South Australia 5001. Email: [email protected]

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Vicki Feast *

* Corresponding author. School of International Business, University of South Australia, GPO Box 2471, Adelaide, South Australia 5001. Email: [email protected]