Perceptions on the internationalisation of higher education in public universities in Kenya and the implications for practice-a phenomenographic approach

The internationalisation of higher education is a dynamic and specific process that is continuously shaped by the context in which it occurs. This article reports on a study that explored perceptions on the internationalisation concept and how it manifests in public universities in Kenya. The article harnesses a phenomenographic analysis approach that aims at revealing the perceptions of both students and academics on the internationalisation phenomenon. It illuminates three qualitatively different perceptions and understandings of internationalisation and explores the implications for practice on three aspects of higher education: Academic, Administrative and Socio-cultural. This article extends the literature on the internationalisation of higher education by providing local understandings and manifestations of the process, a critical starting point towards designing the practice of internationalisation in universities in Kenya and Africa at large.