Notes for the internationalization of Latin American higher education in China

Abstract

An internationalization aimed at the development of the countries in the region with a view to the future must take into consideration their positioning in relation to China. The Asian giant is consolidating its position as a world power and is proposing an internationalization process in which it projects itself towards the rest of the countries in the world. Latin America can benefit from its relationship with this country; for this end, it is necessary to outline strategies that place the region not only as a mere recipient of Chinese decisions. In this paper, we propose to discuss some concepts derived from the internationalization processes in China and Latin America. We will then suggest guidelines and definitions that can be taken into account in order to overcome the unknown that China represents. After briefly mentioning China's place in the region and Latin America's secondary place in China, we briefly analyzed the teaching of Spanish and specific knowledge about Latin America in order to reflect on what the region can offer to China. With regard to the commercial aspects of internationalization, we considered indicators such as mobility, “brain drain” and “brain gain” and funding. We then made some observations on Chinese “soft power” exercised through education. Finally, we discussed the interest, challenges and opportunities for the region in its projection towards China based on a cooperation scheme between the global south.