Gender Equity, Internationalization, and the Quintuple Helix: Comparative NLP Analysis of University Strategies in Japan and Turkiye

Abstract

As higher education institutions (HEIs) seek to align with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), integrating diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) into internationalization strategies has become increasingly central. In this study, we analyze 209 university strategic plans, 86 from Japan (2022-2027) and 123 from Turkiye (2019-2023), to examine how institutional discourse frames gender equity, with a particular focus on SDG 5, gender equality. We identify clear and distinct national patterns using natural language processing (NLP) techniques (e.g., keyword frequency analysis, named entity recognition, and syntactic parsing) and are guided by the quintuple helix model (QHM). Japanese universities tend to emphasize societal engagement and forward-looking commitments through abstract language. In contrast, Turkish universities adopt a more bureaucratic and retrospective tone, often referring explicitly to named target groups. We find that both countries show limited engagement with intersectional identities and marginalized populations such as female faculty, migrants, and refugees, and both underutilize the civil society and environmental dimensions of the QHM. Although inclusive values frequently appear, strategic plans rarely include clear details on how to reach these goals. Based on our analysis, we propose a scalable, reproducible framework for evaluating inclusive internationalization. Our findings underscore the importance of moving beyond symbolic discourse and calling for more accountable, stakeholder-driven planning processes that embed DEI into the structural, curricular, and governance systems of HEIs.