Institutional Agency in a World of Conflict: Reshaping International Student Flows during Geopolitical Crises

• Dr. Arlien V. Moreshaw

  Centre for Higher Education Policy Studies (CHEPS), University of Twente, Enschede, Netherlands

  Author

• Dr. Tenric S. Malvoir

  School of International Service, American University, Washington, D.C., United States

  Author

For decades, the free movement of students across borders has been celebrated as a cornerstone of global higher education, promising academic collaboration, cultural exchange, and economic growth. Today, that promise is being tested like never before. This article explores how higher education institutions (HEIs) are navigating a world of intensifying geopolitical crises, from armed conflicts to resurgent nationalism. It challenges the view that universities are merely passive victims of these global shocks. Instead, drawing on a synthesis of existing research and a detailed analysis of institutional responses in Israel during the Israel-Hamas war, it reveals how university administrators become active agents, engaging in intense "institutional work" to salvage and reshape international student mobility (ISM). The findings show that administrators grapple with severe war-induced impacts across academic, political, economic, and social spheres. In response, they deploy a range of creative and intensive strategies, from rapid resource mobilization and flexible academic policies to profound relational and emotional support. A key insight is the "affective turn" in this crisis environment, where international students are reframed as agents of solidarity and vital emotional resources who help sustain institutional resilience. Beyond just keeping things afloat, the crisis is shown to be a catalyst for a deeper strategic reconfiguration of ISM, pushing recruitment towards diaspora communities and forcing a reassessment of global partnerships based on political alignment. Ultimately, this article argues that geopolitical crises are forcing internationalization to evolve from a market-driven enterprise into something more politically conscious, ethically complex, and deeply human, highlighting the critical role of universities and their people in navigating a turbulent world.

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