Chapter 5: Academic Mobility and Workforce Diversity in Higher Education

In today's dynamic global higher education (HE) landscape, academic mobility has become increasingly prevalent among international scholars. This phenomenon presents universities with the opportunity to cultivate diverse academic workforces and reassess talent management strategies. This chapter provides a comprehensive exploration of academic mobility, referring to the temporary cross-border movement of academics, beginning with an introduction outlining its scope. It then offers a brief overview of the various dimensions of scholarly movement, including historical, geographical, and sociocultural contexts. Furthermore, it highlights the motivating factors and the consequences of academic mobility, emphasizing their impact on talent recruitment strategies and workforce composition. The chapter also explores policies and strategies implemented by institutions to capitalize on opportunities presented by academic mobility. Finally, it concludes with an exploration of challenges and recommendations for managing a diverse workforce in HE settings. Overall, this chapter offers insights into various facets of academic mobility and its implications in HE institutions.