ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND THE INTERNATIONALIZATION IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION EDUCATION: EVIDENCE FROM TOP-RANKED BRAZILIAN PROGRAMS

Abstract

The internationalization of higher education and the world of work has increased the importance of the English language in preparing professionals for global contexts. In the field of Business Administration, proficiency in English facilitates access to international scientific knowledge, strengthens academic mobility, and expands professional opportunities while contributing to the development of competencies required in globalized organizational environments. Against this background, this study aimed to analyze how top-ranked Business Administration programs in Brazil integrate the English language and internationalization into their Pedagogical Course Projects (PCPs). This descriptive study adopted a qualitative, documentary research design based on the analysis of the Pedagogical Course Projects of the higher education institutions ranked highest in the Folha University Ranking (RUF). Data were analyzed using content analysis. The findings show that internationalization is a guiding principle widely embedded in the analyzed Pedagogical Course Projects, reflected in academic mobility programs, international cooperation initiatives, and educational approaches aimed at preparing graduates for multicultural environments. However, the formal integration of English into the curriculum remains heterogeneous across institutions. The study concludes that internationalization is more firmly established as an institutional strategy than English as a core curricular component of Business Administration education.