Cross-cultural Mobility Representations of Academically Talented Brazilians: Triggers and Challenges

Abstract

The present study investigated the cross-cultural mobility mental representations of a sample of forty-one academically talented Brazilians living in countries that offer opportunities to improve their talents. Technical-empirical instruments such as a demographic survey and a semi-structured interview script were used, and the Descending Hierarchical Classification Analysis (Iramuteq—Interface de R pour les Analyses Multidimensionnelles de Textes et de Questionnaires) was employed to compare the classes of words (clusters). Descriptive and inferential statistics (e.g., chi-square) with a 1 degree of freedom and 5% significance level were run as default. Results indicated an increase in the number of academically talented Brazilians going abroad over the last decade, with notable mobility triggers (e.g., development opportunities, quality of life, professional recognition) identified. As opportunities for these people are not always available in their countries, not migrating can represent an interruption in their talent development process, which extends throughout their life course. Cross-cultural mobility not only represents an exercise of personal agency or academic collaboration but also an escape from adverse social and political conditions.