International Student Mobility and Covid-19 Pandemic: Challenges and Opportunities in Southeast Asia

Abstract

The influence of Corona Virus (COVID-19) pandemic is significant in international higher education, especially student mobility. Due to the travel restrictions and campus closure, many students changed or cancelled their plan of studying abroad. Thus this study was therefore conducted primarily to determine the opportunities and challenges of the international mobility of students during the Covid-19 pandemic to draw prospects and recommendations to further enhance the progress of this educational endeavour and as well as, sustainable collaborations in Southeast Asia. The study used descriptive method because the study was associated with large sample sizes, respondents asked the same questions, and concentrating to quantity responses, which ensures that the entire data collection can be analyzed fairly. 35 respondents from institutions in the SEAMEO Network participating in the SEA-TVET Consortium within Southeast Asia were surveyed in this paper, and a questionnaire was used as the main data-gathering instrument for the study. Descriptive method of research and statistical tools were considered. The finding showed that the institution’s program for international student mobility was affected by the COVID-19 worldwide pandemic and greater part of the respondents encounter Travel and Government restrictions since the COVID-19 pandemic had disrupted most facets of lives including education. This had resulted in many schools and institutions of higher learning (IHE) being forced to cancel physical classes, and controlled international travel, with many nations keeping their borders closed to non-residents. Nevertheless, International Student Mobility in South East Asia was complemented using technological advancement for students such as online language or internet education and webinars in this pandemic. The researchers concluded based on the findings that the challenges and opportunities were both adapted by the institutions for International Student Mobility during pandemic in South East Asia.