Justification regimes and crisis practices : International educational collaboration amidst pandemic and war

Abstract

This research investigates how international educational collaboration (IEC) as a social activityadapts to global crises: COVID-19 and the Russian’s invasion in Ukraine. We focus on Finnishhigher education institutions (HEIs) and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that activelyprovide IEC activities, such as student exchange, education export and educational capacitybuilding abroad. Drawing from the sociology of conventions (SC) and the concept of socialpractices, we formulate a multidimensional framework that connects regimes of justification, andsocial practices that emerge in crises. Considering crises as a critical test, we analyse how IEC copewith unexpected situations that require establishing new justifications of public accountability andmorality, and practices that fit the crises situation. Our empirical data collected through a two-stage open-ended questionnaire in 2021 and 2022 enables us to consider the recent trends andpotential future(s) of IEC. Empirically, we conclude that coping with global crises requires IECactors to make changes in IEC practices. Analytically, we theorise that regimes of justificationand social practices that emerge during crises (crisis practices) are interconnected. Thus, thisstudy contributes to practice-oriented frame by considering accountability of practices in theunexpected circumstances, enhancing the understanding of how different organisations adapt toturbulent times.