The strategic role of international cooperation in the development of higher education
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Abstract
The internationalization of higher education plays a strategic role in institutional strengthening, improving academic quality, and enhancing the social impact of universities, especially in emerging contexts. Within this framework, this article analyzes the role of international cooperation in the social and educational development of the Gregório Semedo Higher Polytechnic Institute in southern Angola, based on the perceptions of its academic community. A mixed-methods approach, descriptive-analytical in nature, was adopted, combining the analysis of institutional documents, surveys, and semi-structured interviews with academic administrators, faculty, and undergraduate and graduate students. The results show that international cooperation is valued as a strategic axis for strengthening the institution's core processes, particularly academic training, scientific research, university outreach, and institutional management. Furthermore, opportunities for academic mobility and professional development are recognized as significant benefits for strengthening competencies and integrating into international scientific networks. The study highlights the high level of motivation and willingness of academic stakeholders toward international cooperation, which facilitates the early adoption of internationalization policies. It concludes that the impact of international cooperation will depend on the alignment between institutional policies, organizational capacities, and the attitudes of the academic community.
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References
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