STRATEGIES FOR INTERNATIONALIZATION OF POLITICAL SCIENCE IN DEVELOPING NATIONS: A DELPHI STUDY ON BANGLADESH’S READINESS AND ROADMAP

Abstract

While internationalization is a cornerstone of modern higher education, social science disciplines in developing nations—particularly Political Science—often lag behind STEM fields. This study investigates the strategies, institutional readiness, and potential implementation roadmap for internationalizing Political Science undergraduate programs in Bangladesh.  The research employs a three-round Delphi method with limited number of experts to solicit and refine expert consensus. A panel of 5 experts, including internationalization specialists and Political Science faculty, participated in sequential rounds of qualitative exploration, prioritization, and final consensus-building. The study identifies key strategies such as Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL), curriculum decolonization with global perspectives, and regional research partnerships. It highlights significant barriers, including funding constraints and bureaucratic hurdles, while assessing the current "ad hoc" state of readiness in Bangladeshi universities. This research contributes a context-sensitive framework that moves beyond "one-size-fits-all" Western models. It provides policymakers and academic leaders with a localized roadmap to enhance the global standing of Political Science education in South Asia and similar developing contexts.

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