Post-Pandemic Challenges to the Internationalization of Brazilian Higher Education: A Rapid Review

Abstract

Internationalization of higher education is recognized as a strategic pillar for strengthening the quality of Brazilian Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), although it faces significant challenges. This study aimed to synthesize the scientific literature published in 2024 regarding the challenges faced by Brazilian HEIs in implementing internationalization strategies. Theoretically and methodologically, the research adopted a rapid review framework to ensure a timely synthesis aligned with PRISMA-S guidelines (Garritty et al., 2024; Klerings et al., 2023; Nussbaumer-Streit et al., 2023; Tricco et al., 2015). It employed a dual-stage screening process and reflexive thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2022) to organize and analyze the data, complemented by a critical appraisal of the evidence using the CASP Qualitative Checklist. The corpus consisted of 12 articles, selected according to predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Thematic analysis enabled the identification and synthesis of the main obstacles to the internationalization process of Brazilian HEIs. The results revealed challenges distributed across internal factors (institutional policies, linguistic barriers, infrastructure), external factors (colonial logics, marketization, global asymmetries), financial limitations, and perceptions of the academic community. This study presents a threefold potential: (i) it promotes critical reflection on the internationalization of Brazilian higher education; (ii) it offers insights for the formulation of institutional and public policies; and (iii) it highlights gaps that can guide future research on the topic.