International academic mobility in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic: a first approximation

Abstract

This article studies the phenomenon of international academic mobility and the immediate and short-term impacts expected due to SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus pandemic since its outbreak was declared on January 7, 2020. It gives an overview of its extensive history and a brief analysis of some determining factors that exacerbate this phenomenon. The article provides a snapshot of the theme, highlighting the main poles of current academic attraction, and projects some potential impacts based on the analysis and interpretation of the data collected as a result of a documentary review. In the Latin America section metrics are used to measure the magnitude of the inbound and outbound flows of students taking into account their profound differences in this geographical area and analyzes the effects of the pandemic on these flows. The article concludes with some reflections on international academic mobility from the questions and uncertainties that these ‘viral’ times pose for universities. At the same time, it considers the lessons learned from past pandemics that marked a decline in the medieval university but also induced to its renewal by enhancing scientific knowledge.