Readers are welcome to reproduce and reference this article as long as appropriate acknowledgments are given. The system of education in South Africa has hitherto been elitist and exclusionary. The most important aspect of this transition is that increasing numbers of students from financially disadvantaged backgrounds are not only seeking admission to universities and technikons but also looking to the government to foot the bill. Against this backdrop, it is crucial that tertiary institutions respond decisively and efficiently to the demand for tertiary education from home without sacrificing or abandoning their obligation to neighbouring countries and their international duty.
International students are an integral part of any internationally recognized institution.
It is therefore crucial that South African institutions recognize the academic, cultural and financial benefits to be gained from international students. This recognition must be balanced by the demands imposed on them by the legitimate demands of the citizenry to redress the devastating legacy of apartheid education. Over the last decade, tertiary education has become a major global export commodity. About a million and a half students travel overseas for their education every year. This phenomenon presents host institutions with both financial gains and problems.