Higher Education Studies; Vol. 8, No. 4; 2018 ISSN 1925-4741 E-ISSN 1925-475X Published by Canadian Center of Science and Education Re-examining Higher Education Internationalization in Taiwan: University Strategies for Implementing Overseas Programmes Yuching Liao1 1Graduate School of Education, Kyoto Unviersity, Kyoto, Japan Correspondence: Yuching Liao, Graduate School of Education, Kyoto University, Yoshida-Hommachi, Sakyo-Ku, Kyoto, 606-8501, Japan. Tel: 81-80-4243-0168. E-mail:
[email protected] Received: August 1, 2018 Accepted: August 14, 2018 Online Published: October 20, 2018 doi:10.5539/hes.v8n4p116 URL: https://doi.org/10.5539/hes.v8n4p116 Abstract This study clarifies the rationale for offering overseas programmes as an internationalization strategy by Taiwanese higher education institutions through an analysis of related university documents and interview data. In doing so, this study highlights how institutional goals and characteristics, as well as social and cultural backgrounds, affect the internationalization of higher education based on the following two points. First, in addition to the pursuit of academic excellence and expanding student markets, university strategies are based on its particular history, resources, development goals, and orientation. Second, although different strategies were observed among the examined universities, the Chinese element and the pluralistic value of Taiwanese society have influenced the overseas programmes offered by Taiwanese universities. This paper argues that instead of merely adopting the international standard or pursuing academic excellence, it is essential for Taiwanese universities to implement internationalization strategies in order to determine their meaning and purpose in the context of Taiwanese higher education. Keywords: cross-border education, higher education, internationalization, overseas programmes, Taiwan, universities’ strategies 1.