Higher Education Strategies and International Student Flows in Asian Countries

Set against the backdrop of increasing economic interdependence in the Asia region, the idea of ‗regional integration ‘ is most often articulated as a policy instrument and political ideal. Arguably, this objective is being pursued to further promote regional competitiveness in the world economy and to bring about a new stable political order. Nevertheless, any move in this direction has been repeatedly challenged from perspectives that emphasize socio-cultural diversity in the region and shared histories. It is in this context that Waseda University received the Global COE research grant from the Ministry of Education of Japan. Waseda University was tasked with establishing the Graduate Institute for Asian Regional Integration (GIARI) to investigate problems and prospects relating to Asian regional integration. Issues of education are central to any dialogue that seeks to further integrate political, social, and economic systems in the region. Taking European integration as a precursor, it is clear that education plays a critical role in the integration process. It is certainly, therefore, within the purview and moreover, a responsibility of Waseda‘s Global COE—sponsored research to examine the role education will continue to play in a more comprehensive integration of the Asia region. There is not a single nexus of research where the study of Asian regional integration and educatio