Unintended Outcomes of the EHEA and ASEAN: Peripheral Members and Their Façade Conformity

This chapter analyses some unintended outcomes and challenges, such as the emergence of sub-circuits for student mobility, the increase of private providers, and corruption in higher education occurred in the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) and the Association of South-East Asian Nations’ (ASEAN) Common Space for Higher Education. These unintended outcomes constitute the vulnerability, disengagement or superficial conformity to regional agreements of newer member countries. The chapter asks what causes unintended outcomes in the regional processes and why the peripheral status of newer members continues to persist to the detriment of regional integration. Drawing on empirical data of national higher education reforms in newer members and comparing regional projects in Asia and Europe, the author argues that the dysfunction and transformation of nation-states and weak governance structures can be seen as causes of these unintended outcomes. Furthermore, new sub-regional economic projects and influx of multiple international influences also cause façade conformity and complex reconfigurations of higher education systems in the newer members. Understanding of different unintended outcomes and their causes will help devise future priorities for the EHEA and ASEAN.