Internationalisation and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Higher Education: The Promise of Internationalism and the Danger of Positionalism

This article explores the emerging logics of internationalisation in higher education and the pursuit of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Drawing upon the work of Jonas Stier, it outlines the historical and philosophical aspects of internationalisation - particularly internationalism, educationalism, and instrumentalism - and shows how these can lead to what varieties of higher education internationalism. As academic institutions adapt to a changing global context where market and sustainability logics intertwine, this exploration reveals how new logics prioritise sustainability, equity, and social responsibility as goals linked to internationalisation agendas for higher education institutions (HEIs). However, this paper also raises the danger of HEIs’ seeking sustainability merely as a positional good, leading to positionalism, which leads to the performance of sustainability for ranking and reputational purposes rather than for making contributions to the global commons. The paper offers insights into how new perspectives on internationalism could lead to an alignment of academic work with global sustainability objectives, fostering a collective commitment to creating positive and lasting impacts on a global scale.