Internationalization at home in higher education: a systematic review of teaching and learning practices
Journal
Journal of Applied Research in Higher Education
Date Issued
September 30, 2025
DOI
10.1108/JARHE-10-2023-0484
Abstract
Internationalization at Home (IaH) emerged in Europe in the late 1990s out of the concern that the internationalization of the Higher Education (HE) system was leaving out the non-mobile majority (Almeida et al., 2019). IaH has evolved beyond student mobility abroad to encompass all educational activities related to international affairs within domestic learning environments. Numerous efforts have aimed to define its elements and purposes, ultimately conceptualizing it as a framework that integrates intercultural dimensions into both formal and informal curricula for all students (Beelen and Jones, 2015). Recent years have witnessed the rapid advancement of IaH, particularly, with the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic, which led to an initial closure of universities and colleges around the world with important consequences for pedagogy and internationalization (Murphy, 2020). Despite the rapid advancement and burst of research manuscripts in the specific topic, there is no recent review that summarizes current trends and directions of IaH. The absence of a recent review poses a challenge for researchers and educators seeking to comprehend the evolution and latest trends in IaH. To address this gap, this paper aims to explore the implementation of current practices, benefits, and challenges of IaH in HE. It specifically highlights technological advancements that facilitate IaH implementation. Our study is distinguished by its innovative approach, conducting a comprehensive systematic review of the most recent teaching and learning practices, with a particular focus on the latest technological innovations. It clearly outlines specific learning objectives and identifies essential tools crucial for the successful implementation of IaH initiatives. By offering detailed analysis and concrete examples, this research responds to the urgent need for a deeper analysis of IaH, thereby contributing significantly to the field. We present a synthesis of the state-of-the-art, drawing from 58 manuscripts.