Ranking, Internationalization, and Global Student Mobility

We invite submissions for its forthcoming special issue. We welcome submissions from various academic disciplines to foster a holistic understanding of ranking, internationalization, and student mobility in higher education institutions (colleges & universities).

Editorial Panel

Dr Jing Luan, San Mateo Colleges, USA
Dr Gardiana Bandeira Melo, University of Oxford, UK
Dr Patricia Timmons, Harvard University, USA
Dr. Khaled AlKattan, Alfaisal University, Saudi Arabia
Dr Asia Neupane, Yale University, USA
Dr Uttiyo Roychaudhary, University of Denver, USA
Dr Cristina Alfaro, San Diego State University, USA
Dr Jun Teng, Beijing Normal University, China
Dr Adel Ahmed, Amity University Dubai, UAE

Call for Submissions

Theme: Ranking, Internationalization, and Global Student Mobility

The Journal of International Students (JIS), a flagship open-access peer-reviewed publication, invites submissions for its forthcoming special issue. We welcome submissions from various academic disciplines to foster a holistic understanding of ranking, internationalization, and student mobility in higher education institutions (colleges & universities). Researchers, educators, and policymakers are encouraged to contribute their insights and findings. Relevant fields include international and comparative education, law, policy, economics, global studies, cultural studies, human geography, sociology, linguistics, cross-cultural and counseling psychology, social work, and STEM education.

Multidisciplinary Topics:

  • Sustainability and Internationalization – Challenges and rankings in adapting maintenance and repair systems globally.
  • Faculty Perceptions of Curriculum Internationalization – Globalization vs. localization in education across contexts.
  • Strategic International Partnerships in Higher Education – The impact of high-ranking collaborations in Asian countries
  • Mapping Internationalization in Asia – Higher education's role in raising international reputation through rankings.
  • Cross-National International Comparisons – The internationalization processes between countries or regions.
  • Home Internationalization Strategies – Insights from Asian/Latin American institutions and their influence on national rankings.
  • Westernization vs. Internationalization in Post-Soviet States – The impact of global rankings on Central and Eastern Europe.
  • Institutional Adaptation to Global Rankings – University strategies and international visibility.
  • Digital Internationalization's Impact in Higher Education – Ranking influences and internationalization trends in the Asia-Pacific or other regions.
  • Unintended Consequences of Internationalization – Comparing case studies across regions, including political, social, and cultural effects.
  • Internationalization of Teacher Education – Trends and challenges across regions, emphasizing elite formation and global rankings.
  • Geopolitical Agendas and Prestige Economy – Analyzing the role of university rankings and internationalization in power dynamics.
  • Student Migration and Development Nexus – Investigating how global educational hierarchies, reflected in rankings, affect international student migration.
  • Quality of Research and World Rankings in Vietnam – The role of citations, international faculty, and faculty ratios in shaping institutional performance.
  • Comparative Analyses of International Student Mobility Trends – Understanding the motivations and patterns of global student mobility.
  • The Role of AI and Technology in International and Global Education – Exploring how digital tools enhance or challenge global education.
  • The Effects of Political Changes on International Higher Education – How shifts in political landscapes impact education systems worldwide.
  • Innovative Pedagogical Approaches for International Students – Tailoring teaching methods to diverse student populations.
  • Internationalization of Business and STEM Education – Strategies for integrating global perspectives in STEM and business programs.
  • Curriculum Internationalization and Academic and Cultural Resources – Utilizing diverse resources to enrich the curriculum.
  • Branding, Ranking, and Internationalizing Institutions of Higher Education – Building global reputations through strategic branding.
  • Decolonizing Internationalization Initiatives – Reimagining global education frameworks beyond colonial influences.
  • Emerging Models of Internationalization in Language and Cultural Studies – Innovative approaches to language and culture in a global context.

These topics encapsulate a range of challenges related to the strategic, operational, cultural, and policy aspects of internationalization across different sectors and geographies.

Submission Guidelines:

Authors are encouraged to review the submission guidelines on the JIS website. Manuscripts should adhere to the specified formatting and referencing styles and must be accompanied by a declaration of originality and the absence of simultaneous submissions to other publications.

Tentative Timeline:

  • Abstract Submission Deadline: May 1, 2025
  • Full Manuscript Submission Deadline: Nov 1, 2025

Abstract Submission Portal 

Manuscript Types

a) Research Articles (4,500-7,500 words) submissions use quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods research to make a new and demonstratively significant advancement in under-researched aspects of the field related to topics outlined in the journal's Aims & Scope.

b) "Research in Brief" section of the Journal of International Students is designed to concisely analyze specific topics or questions using new or existing data sources. Articles should include a brief introduction, a discussion of the data, up to two figures/tables, a maximum of 10 references, and be within 2,000 words. Titles should be under 10 words, an abstract of 120 words or less is required, and manuscripts must undergo standard peer review.

For inquiries about this Special Issue, please get in touch with the Project Editor, Dr Jing Luan, San Mateo Colleges, USA at jingluan@my.smccd.edu

Resources for Authors/Editors:

About the Journal: 

The Journal of International Students is a top-ranked, peer-reviewed publication dedicated to advancing research on international students and global education. As a biannual journal (Print ISSN 2162-3104 & Online ISSN 2166-3750), JIS publishes multidisciplinary research that informs policy, practice, and scholarship in international education.

High Ranking & Impact – Rigorous peer review ensures the publication of influential research in international and higher education.

Global Reach & Representation – Over 2,500 scholars from 50+ countries have published in JIS. More than half of our articles feature authors from Asia, Africa, Europe, Australia, and South America.

Extensive Indexing – JIS is indexed in Scopus, Web of Science, ESCI, ERIC, ProQuest, OCLC, EBSCOHost, Thomson Reuters, Questia, Cengage, Scientific World Index, Scimago Journal & Country Rank, Google Scholar Metrics, and Higher Education Abstracts.

Disciplinary coverage

JIS welcomes submissions from researchers, educators, and policymakers across disciplines, including:

  • International & Comparative Education
  • Higher Education & Policy Studies
  • Law, Economics, & Global Studies
  • Cultural Studies & Human Geography
  • Linguistics & Cross-Cultural Psychology
  • Counseling & Social Work