Transnational education in schools, universities, and beyond: Definitions and research areas

Abstract The article is directed to theorizing Transnational Education (TNE). This entails definitions of what is meant by transnational and by education. It also focuses a variety of social realities which might be classified as TNE. The main aim of the article is to sharpen TNE as an analytical concept and at the same time broaden the horizon on the range of actors who are involved in TNE within different sectors of education epitomized as schools, universities, and beyond. It is posited that for research it is not only essential to have a clear view of what is considered as transnational, but also to take into account which sectors of education shall be addressed. This leads to questions of legitimacy and governance, because: who defines, controls, and regulates TNE? Here the theoretical crushing point is the relation of TNE to the sovereignty principle of national education policy. In the first part of the article TNE is defined and conceptualized, whereas in the second part the three TNE research areas announced in the title are characterized.