Globalization and Isomorphism in Higher Education: A Descriptive Analysis
Conference paper > Full Text · 2024
Authors: Süheyda Atalay, Şadiye Emet GÜREL, Azra Kardelen Nazlı
International Quality Conference, Türkiye, Trabzon, International, Verbal, Full Text, 2024-2024, pp 549-555
Summary
<p>Globalization, a phenomenon specific to our current period, is expanding, deepening, and accelerating interdependence relations among individuals, organizations, and societies. As a phenomenon that envisages change and transformation, globalization leads to the emergence of a new world in economic, political, and cultural terms. All organizations, whether for-profit or non-profit, are being shaped, changed, and transformed by the impact of globalization. Globalization significantly affects the higher education system and forces higher education institutions to change. In this context, it is important for higher education institutions to be organized and managed by the requirements of global competition, to carry out internationalization-based studies, to develop an approach based on the quality assurance system, and to adapt it to all service processes (Arslan, 2019; Arslan, 2022; Bakioğlu, 2015; Bastedo, 2019; Celep & Tülübaş, 2015; Delbanco, 2020; Rosovsky, 2017; Vardar, 2022). However, globalization is a process that involves risks as well as benefits. The most important danger that awaits higher education institutions in this process is an isomorphism, which, in the simplest terms, means uniformity. As an institutionalization approach, isomorphism can be defined as organizations within the same environment having a similar structure and function due to the pressure of the environment (Boxenbaum & Jonsson, 2017; DiMaggio & Powell, 1983; Hawley, 1968; Koçel, 2003; Meyer & Rowan, 1977). This study focuses on the concepts of globalization and isomorphism in higher education. Accordingly, it aims to analyze the effects of the globalization process on the higher education system and higher education institutions through the concept of isomorphism, examine the management of higher education, and contribute to the literature within the context of higher education studies. This qualitative study analyzed academic studies on isomorphism in higher education using the descriptive analysis method. The study has revealed that isomorphism in higher education is a common phenomenon parallel with globalization and the findings are considered to be in line with the relevant literature.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Keywords: </strong>Globalization, Higher Education, University, Isomorphism, Management, Higher Education Studies.</p>