According to a recent blog post by Richard J Edelstein and John Aubrey Douglass on University World News, there are nine main reasons why research universities are going global.

1. "Pedagogical and curricular logics"

Often, it's part of the curriculum or teaching methods to include an international component in students' learning.

2. "Research, data access and expertise logics"

The very purpose of a university–to uncover new knowledge without limits–naturally pushes these institutions to become global.

3. "Network development logics"

With the creation of the Internet and the rise of social media, networks have become larger and more powerful than ever with people all over the world in instant contact with one another. That makes it even easier for universities to team up with other institutions from different countries.

4. "Competitive logics"

With competition continuing to increase between universities, global partnerships are necessary to stay on top, providing sources of new students and resources.

5. "Market access and regional integration logics"

The economy is growing in countries such as China, India, Russia, and Brazil, meaning universities in North America and Europe are hitching their wagons to schools in these countries to share in some of that prosperity.

6. "Institution building, technology transfer, development"

On the other side of the coin, many international partnerships deal with working with developing countries in order to build their economies and centers of education. It's not clear who receives the most benefits from such endeavors as their are pros and cons to both participants.

7. "Revenue and resource-driven logics"

According to businesspeople and economists, the importance and demand for post-secondary education is increasing, meaning the cost for providing such services is going up as it becomes more difficult for students to get into their preferred institution and skilled scholars and researchers remain scarce. Many international partnerships are seen by universities as an additional source of income, especially with the poor funding environment many universities and colleges currently face.

8. "Social responsibility logics"

Many teachers and students see it as their responsibility to help others in third-world countries by volunteering their time and expertise. Often, these aren't part of their degrees and are funded by NGOs, rather than the universities.

9. "National security logics"

In America, some universities get funding to research societies and languages–often from areas where there is a chance for conflict–seen as important to national security.

- With files from University World News

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