A Data-Driven Smart University Framework for Sustainable Internationalisation at Home: A PLS-SEM Study in Vietnamese Higher Education

Abstract

Internationalisation at Home is increasingly recognised as an alternative to conventional physical mobility, offering opportunities to broaden equitable access to knowledge and promote sustainable practices in higher education. This study develops and empirically tests a data-driven smart university framework as an integrative model for examining the structural relationships between technological foundations and the sustainable implementation of Internationalisation at Home. A quantitative, cross-sectional research design was employed, using primary data collected through a structured questionnaire administered to 312 managers and faculty members involved in transnational education programmes in Vietnam. The data were analysed using partial least squares structural equation modelling. The findings support the proposed structural relationships within the model. Specifically, integrated data infrastructure has a positive relationship with faculty digital competence. An ethical data governance framework and the adoption of learning analytics and artificial intelligence are also positively associated with the quality of Internationalisation at Home. In turn, the quality of Internationalisation at Home has a statistically significant positive relationship with perceived institutional sustainability. The study provides empirical evidence of the structural links between digital technological innovation and the sustainability of higher education internationalisation. The findings offer a basis for reconsidering institutional resource allocation strategies in developing countries, with greater priority given to integrated data architectures, digital capability development, and responsible data governance.