Higher Education Marketization: a Case of Language and Colliding Interests

Abstract

This article examines how market interests and state regulations come into play as policy makers engage in establishing language primacy within higher education (HE). More specifically, the focus concerns issues of internationalization within a multi-lingual context, manifested in language policies (LP). LPs are constructed in order to sort out which language to give primacy. Findings demonstrate how HE is balancing between invoking markets obfuscated through internationalization whilst simultaneously restricting market effects through state regulations. The promulgation of certain languages supports and weakens market and state interests. This article contributes to research and practice in HE, presenting future obstacles and challenges.