​International education in a multipolar world: Geopolitics, policy and institutional adaptation​

Closes:
Journal
International Journal of Educational Management
Guest editor(s)
Ly Thi Tran, Jill Blackmore, Dong Nguyen,

Submit your paper here!


Introduction

This Special Issue focuses on how shifting geopolitical dynamics are reshaping international education and the implications for university management, governance and policy. It aims to advance understanding of how higher education institutions respond to geopolitical tensions, policy realignments and increasing regulatory scrutiny affecting student and staff mobilities, knowledge circulation, research collaboration and transnational education partnerships.

The SI will curate theoretically informed and empirically grounded contributions that address strategic management challenges, including risk governance, compliance, internationalisation strategies and institutional resilience. It will explore how universities navigate competing priorities related to national security, economic imperatives and academic values.

By focusing on leadership, governance and policy responses, the SI seeks to generate insights for university leaders and policymakers, supporting more adaptive, ethical and sustainable approaches to managing international education in a complex and evolving global environment. 

List of Topic Areas
  • Geopolitics and higher education governance, leadership and risk management
  • Policy shifts in international education, migration and research security
  • Regionalisation/regional networks as a strategic response to geopolitical uncertainty
  • Impacts on student mobility, staff experiences and institutional practices
  • Organisational resilience, strategy and reconfiguration of international partnerships.
Submissions Information

Submissions are made using ScholarOne Manuscripts. Registration and access are available here: https://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/ijem 
Author guidelines must be strictly followed. Please see here: https://www.emeraldgrouppublishing.com/journal/ijem 
Authors should select (from the drop-down menu) the special issue title at the appropriate step in the submission process, i.e. in response to ““Please select the issue you are submitting to”. 
Submitted articles must not have been previously published, nor should they be under consideration for publication anywhere else, while under review for this journal.

Key Deadlines

Opening date for manuscripts submissions: ​27/04/2026​ 
Closing date for manuscripts submission: ​27/09/2026​