South-to-South Pathways Reshaping International Student Mobility

The Case of Malaysia

Abstract

This article examines South-to-South pathways of international student mobility through a case study of three international universities in Malaysia. It argues that religious, ethnic, and regional ties are strategically leveraged to create alternative education pathways beyond conventional East–West or South–North binaries. The study illustrates how the internationalization of higher education is being rearticulated beyond Euro-American models, highlighting the increasing visibility and influence of actors in the Global South.