Gendered experience in student mobility programs—Global Korea Scholarship recipients' evaluation of Korea's country image

Abstract

AbstractAccording to 2012 Organisation for Economic Co‐operation and Development (OECD) statistics, 11 of 19 OECD countries have a higher female international student participation ratio in student mobility. South Korea has a higher ratio of female international students in general and a higher ratio of female Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) recipients. In 2018 and 2019, we surveyed GKS students about their evaluation of South Korea's country image and discovered significant differences by gender. Female students tend to show a lower cognitive and affective evaluation of the GKS country image experience than male students. We aim to uncover the determinants of these asymmetrical gender‐based differences in the perceived country image of South Korea. Two adjustment indicators (emotional well‐being and feeling part of society) and three adjustment factors (language skills, length of stay, and perceived discrimination) were examined to explore the determinants of gendered favorability toward the country. The findings suggest that female and male GKS recipients have different gendered experiences in the country, which, in turn, impacts their evaluation of South Korea's country image. The findings contribute to the country image and public diplomacy studies and practice, particularly in sponsored student mobility programs, which often fail to distinguish gendered experiences in their analysis or program planning.Related Articles in this Special IssueAyhan, Kadir Jun, and Nancy Snow. 2021. “Introduction to the Special Issue—Global Korea Scholarship: Empirical Evaluation of a non‐Western Scholarship Program from a Public Diplomacy Perspective.” Politics & Policy 49(6): 1282–1291. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12440.Istad, Felicia, Eriks Varpahovskis, Ekra Miezan, and Kadir Jun Ayhan. 2021. “Global Korea Scholarship Students: Intention to Stay in the Host Country to Work or Study after Graduation.” Politics & Policy 49(6): 1323–1342. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12436.Tam, Lisa, and Kadir Jun Ayhan. 2021. “Evaluations of People, Affection, and Recommendation for a Host Country: A Study of Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) Recipients.” Politics & Policy 49(6): 1292–1307. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12438.