My Research

This ethnographic case study examined diaspora-homeland higher education collaborations and their implications for internationalization and capacity strengthening at Nigerian institutions. In light of the increasing centrality of diaspora engagement in international educational development efforts, this study provided empirical data on the successes and challenges of such initiatives. The overarching research question that guided this study is: What is the role of diaspora-homeland collaborations in the internationalization and capacity strengthening of higher education in Nigeria?

My findings indicate that diaspora-homeland collaborations are perceived to yield positive results in terms of capacity building and internationalization at Nigerian universities. My study also highlights the centrality of competitiveness and social capital in shaping motivations for and experiences participating in these collaborations. Further, my findings suggest that diaspora-homeland initiatives encounter and generate challenges that jeopardize their efficacy. Based on my research, I argue that while participants generally perceive their engagements to be effective, failure to address foundational challenges threatens the success and sustainability of these initiatives and may perpetuate Nigerian universities’ dependence on external interventions and leave them further marginalized in the global knowledge economy.