How Do International Branch Campuses Integrate Resources? A Systematic Review of Resource Integration Processes
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54097/c35s0d80Keywords:
International Branch Campus, Resource Integration, Resource-based View, Resource Dependence Theory, Systematic ReviewAbstract
How do International Branch Campuses integrate resources? This systematic review synthesizes literature from 2000 to 2025 to answer this question. Drawing on resource-based view and resource dependence theory, we identify four resource types requiring integration: financial, human, academic, and reputational. We examine the integration process from planning to regeneration, and identify interactions between resource types. Two research gaps are identified: limited longitudinal research on integration processes and resource regeneration, and insufficient attention to interactions between resource types. The review offers a conceptual framework and directions for future research. A forthcoming fourth article will examine IBC failure and sustainability.
Downloads
References
[1] Deng, L., Su, J., & Tan, H. (2025). Do the establishment of overseas branch campuses and financial collaboration promote human capital spillovers in host countries? Finance Research Letters, forthcoming.
[2] Farrugia, C. A., & Lane, J. E. (2013). Legitimacy in cross border higher education: Identifying stakeholders of international branch campuses. Journal of Studies in International Education, 17(4), 414 432. https://doi.org/ 10. 1177/ 1028315312453842.
[3] Harry, T. T., Dodd, N., & Chinyamurindi, W. (2019). Telling tales: Motivations and challenges of expatriate academics in South Africa. Journal of Global Mobility, 7(1), 64 87. https:// doi. org/10.1108/JGM 06 2018 0034.
[4] Lan, S. (2025). Research on the promotion strategy of teachers' digital literacy under the background of education digital transformation. International Scientific Technical and Economic Research, 3(2), 136 147.
[5] Liao, X., Chen, Y., Wang, H., Duan, G., Li, M., & Liao, J. (2025). Application of artificial intelligence in the field of psychological evaluation and intervention of college students. International Scientific Technical and Economic Research, 3(2), 15 22.
[6] Sheng, D., Song, C., Zhu, Z., Kong, Y., & Sheng, D. (2024). Research on performance evaluation of scientific research staff based on entropy weight TOPSIS method. International Scientific Technical and Economic Research, 2(3), 46 56.
[7] Wang, X., & Wang, Q. (2024). Big Data in Education and Student Learning Analytics. International Scientific Technical and Economic Research, 2(2), 87 92.
[8] Healey, N. M. (2015). Managing international branch campuses: What do we know? Higher Education Quarterly, 69(4), 386 409. https://doi.org/10.1111/hequ.12083.
[9] Hickey, R. (2024). Income diversification and financial sustainability in English universities: The role of international and remote metropolitan branch campuses. University of Bath Doctoral Thesis.
[10] Hickey, R., & Davies, D. (2024). The common factors underlying successful international branch campuses: Towards a conceptual decision making framework. Globalisation, Societies and Education, 22(2), 364 378. https://doi. org/ 10. 1080/ 14767724.2023.2296242.
[11] Hou, A. Y. C., Hill, C., Chen, K. H. J., & Tsai, S. (2018). A comparative study of international branch campuses in Malaysia, Singapore, China, and South Korea: Regulation, governance, and quality assurance. Asia Pacific Education Review, 19(4), 543 555. https://doi.org/10.1007/ s12 56 4 018 9558 3.
[12] Lamers Reeuwijk, A. M., Admiraal, W. F., & Van Der Rijst, R. M. (2019). Expatriate academics and transnational teaching: The need for quality assurance and quality enhancement to go hand in hand. Higher Education Research & Development, 39(4), 733 747. https://doi.org/10.1080/ 07294360. 2019. 1666 122.
[13] Shams, F., & Huisman, J. (2011). Managing offshore branch campuses: An analytical framework for institutional strategies. Journal of Studies in International Education, 16(2), 106 127. https://doi.org/10.1177/1028315311413457.
[14] Song, C., Zhu, Z., Kong, Y., Gao, D., Fu, T., & Song, C. (2024). Design and optimization of research performance allocation scheme based on TOPSIS entropy weight Method. International Scientific Technical and Economic Research, 2(3), 1 9.
[15] Stek, P. E., & Park, H. W. (2024). The influence of international branch campuses on regional university research networks. Higher Education, 87(3), 521 540. https://doi.org/ 10. 1007/s10734 023 01080 0.
[16] Lin, M., Fei, M., Wang, Y., Bai, L., & Lin, X. (2025). Research on scientific research performance evaluation based on IAHP ICRITIC combined weighting. International Scientific Technical and Economic Research, 3(2), 172 184.
[17] Swenddal, H. J., Nkhoma, M., & Gumbley, S. J. (2022). Global integration barriers at international branch campuses: The IBC othering loop. International Journal of Educational Management, 36(4), 593 605. https://doi.org/10. 1108/ IJEM 03 2021 0087.
[18] Trembath, J. L. (2016). The professional lives of expatriate academics: Construct clarity and implications for expatriate management in higher education. Journal of Global Mobility, 4(2), 112 130. https://doi.org/10.1108/JGM 09 2015 0033.
[19] Wilkins, S. (2016). Establishing international branch campuses: A framework for assessing opportunities and risks. Journal of Higher Education Policy and Management, 38(2), 167 182. https://doi.org/10.1080/1360080X.2016.1150034.
[20] Wilkins, S. (2020). Two decades of international branch campus development, 2000–2020: A review. International Journal of Educational Management, 35(1), 311 326. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJEM 04 2020 0181.
[21] Wilkins, S., Butt, M. M., & Annabi, C. A. (2017). The effects of employee commitment in transnational higher education: The case of international branch campuses. Journal of Studies in International Education, 21(4), 295 314. https://doi.org/10. 1177/ 1028315317710088.
[22] Wilkins, S., & Neri, S. (2018). Managing faculty in transnational higher education: Expatriate academics at international branch campuses. Journal of Studies in International Education, 23(4), 451 472. https://doi.org/10. 1177/ 1028315318819947.
[23] Wood, P., & Salt, J. (2017). Staffing UK universities at international campuses. Higher Education Policy, 31(2), 181 199. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41307 017 0064 6.
[24] Yao, Y., & Yang, Z. (2024). The motivations and challenges for academic expatriates in international branch campuses. Frontiers in Education, 9, 1457278. https://doi.org/ 10.3389/ feduc. 2024.1457278.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 International Core Journal of Social Sciences
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
