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February 28, 2025
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April 20, 2026
Published
April 21, 2026
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Abstract

This study was aimed at examining the benefits, challenges, and opportunities associated with
higher education internationalisation (HEI) in a Ghanaian public university. To achieve these
objectives, the study drew data from international students through 17 in-depth interviews,
corroborated by evidence from the case university’s archival reports. The triangulation of
the interviews with archival data enhanced the credibility and robustness of the results. We
found that study abroad programs provided respondents the advantage of learning a second
international language and enhanced their career advancement in the global job market.
However, the language barrier was a major challenge for some international students, hindering
their integration into the local learning community. While some research participants
highly valued the unique perspective of social integration and intercultural exposure, others
struggled to adjust to the new culture. The study highlights high-cost-of-living as
a major challenge for international students, impacting their academic performance and overall
experience. The university’s flexible tuition fee payment plan was recognised
as a positive initiative to alleviate the financial burdens of international students. Our findings
contribute to the literature of HEI in emerging economies and provide valuable insights for
universities seeking to enhance the experiences of international students. In conclusion,
universities hosting international students should provide language support, financial assistance, and
social integration programs to increase students’ learning experience.

Keywords

International students Higher Education Internationalisation Study Abroad Programs University Education

Article Details

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Copyright (c) 2026 James Tuffour, Dr Arhin, Prof., Prof., Mrs.

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Author Biographies

Prof. Kwame Oduro Amoako, Sunyani Technical University, Sunyani, Ghana

Department of Accountancy, Faculty of Business and Management Studies, Sunyani Technical University

Prof. Samuel Kwaku Agyei, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana

Department of Finance, School of Business, University of Cape Coast

Mrs. Florence Sarkodie-Tuffour, College Height Christian School

Ghana Education Service, Cape Coast

How to Cite
Tuffour, J., Arhin, D. E. Y., Amoako, P. K. O., Agyei, P. S. K., & Sarkodie-Tuffour, M. F. (2026). Higher Education Internationalisation: Evidence from a Ghanaian Public University. Pan-African Journal of Education and Social Sciences, 6(3), 77–94. https://doi.org/10.56893/pajes2025v06i03.05
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