Polarisation and migration are arguably the most defining factors of the 21st century globally. Together, they have reshaped global politics and policy, which has had a profound impact on the higher education landscape (Heath, 2024). Polarisation, a concept driven by ideological, political, religious and socioeconomic divides, instigates and perpetuates social inequality and militates against social cohesion (Somer & McCoy, 2018). Polarisation is particularly evident in the Global North, where rising nationalism, populism, and identity politics challenge the inclusivity of educational institutions. Global migratory patterns complicate existing polarisation. In the Global South, migration often takes the form of internal displacement and regional movement, resulting in overcrowded urban centres and strained education systems (Thomas & Mara, 2024). In the Global North, on the other hand, migration is fuelled by economic opportunities and displacement from conflict and climate change. In both instances, this has generated debates over cultural integration, resource allocation, and national identity (McAuliffe & Oucho, 2024). As extensions of the political economy, higher education institutions have become battlefields where these social dilemmas give rise to a particular institutional management approach. This presentation critically analyses higher education institutions in South Africa and the Netherlands. It sheds light on the effects of selected global events on higher education policy and practices. The presentation highlights how, despite social justice-orientated education being central to the higher education mandate, it becomes criticised when it is enacted in practice. This raises important ontological and epistemological questions about the purpose of higher education for the present and the future.

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