The influence of international branch campuses on regional university research networks: the case of Greater Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

What is it about?

The growth of international branch campuses (IBCs) is a notable feature of the higher education system in several emerging economies. However, the impact of IBCs on the host regions is rarely analyzed. This study focuses on the unique case of Greater Kuala Lumpur, the most populous conurbation in Malaysia. Greater Kuala Lumpur has several large local public and private universities, as well as sizable IBCs from Australia, China, and the UK, with commensurate scientific output. The scientific output (publications and citations) and co-authorship networks of 13 major universities in Greater Kuala Lumpur are analyzed between 2013 and 2022. The results show that IBCs receive more citations per publication, suggesting that their research output has greater scientific influence compared to local institutions. Their greater scientific influence correlates to IBCs’ stronger position in co-authorship networks and their higher rates of (international) research collaboration. Over time, IBCs appear to deepen their connections to the Greater Kuala Lumpur research system, while the relative importance of the research relationships with the home campus declines. In terms of the international orientation of their research network, IBCs are similar to local public universities. For policymakers, this implies that attracting IBCs can expand the university system and increase a region’s scientific influence. However, these benefits should be weighed against policy alternatives, such as reforming and increasing support for local universities.

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