A conceptual model for integrating higher education in Asia: Structural and organic approaches

This paper is concerned with the dual approach for integrating higher education in Asia. The dual approach consists of structural and organic forces. The former is concerned with the role of states in the process of higher education regionalization in Asia. It sees relevant governmental organizations and policy frameworks as a form of structural approach facilitating and promoting the regional integration in a top-down manner. It then conceptualizes the policy initiatives and governmental agenda in light of the power relations in global higher education. This article also looks into the regional network with a focus on the non-governmental initiatives. It argues that these non-governmental initiatives can be seen as an organic approach promoting the higher education regionalization in a bottom-up manner. Again, it turns to conceptualize the issues with an emphasis on the disciplinary effects of regional cooperation. It also explains how this organic form of collaboration interacts with the structural one.