A Foundation for the Internationalization of the Academic Self

Abstract

This article identifies the limitations of contemporary organizational theory on the internationalization of higher education in guiding and supporting internationalization activities at the level of the academic Self. A way forward is provided through Cranton's notion of authenticity in teaching in higher education, which presents a platform for understanding the academic Self through critically reflective and self-reflective processes. Cranton's work is then expanded using the concept of cosmopolitanism to enhance the potential for individual teachers to internationalize their personal and professional outlooks. In sum, this article highlights the importance of the exhortation from Socrates to know thyself as a precondition to better understand Others. Furthermore, the article provides the fundamental underpinnings of a conceptual framework for the internationalization of the academic Self.