The demand for higher education is growing at an exponential rate worldwide.
Predominantly, the growth is driven by economic progress of developing nations,
demographic trends and increased globalization of economies and societies (Alam,
Alam, Chowdhury, & Steiner, 2013). Supporting this assumption is underscored
by the findings that student participation in higher education increased by 128%
from 1990 to 2007 (66.9 to 152.5 million students). Such developments, then forced
universities across the globe, to come into terms with the ever growing momentum
around internationalization of higher education (HE). Serving as evidence that
supports this assumption is the prevalence in universities of increased student and
staff mobility. Additionally, the escalating number and quality of international
collaborative research projects and efforts to incorporate international dimensions
into the curriculum also contributed to the internationalization of HE. The University
of Botswana (UB) is no exception to this (University of Botswana, 2014).
Yet, another dimension to appreciate is, Botswana, like several of the emerging
economies in the world has a fast growing population. The Botswana Population
Census (2011) noted this development, indicating that 52% of the overall population
is youth. With the same understanding in mind, Alam, Alam, Chowdhury and Steiner
(2013) asserted that the fast youth population growth puts pressure on domestic
education systems. Alam and al. further purported that because of the increased
population growth, many countries globally, are increasingly unable to satisfy local
demand for higher education since several of those cannot expand the existing
capacity of their higher education. This is a result of financial limitations, ever
changing political landscape, and other factors.