Internationally educated local staff or IntELS in Vietnam: do they feel supported in the workplace?

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study examines the influence of international higher education exposure on the workplace integration of Internationally Educated Local Staff (IntELS). This research aims to enhance our understanding of how individuals with international higher education backgrounds navigate the challenges of integrating into local workplaces. It seeks to uncover the underlying dynamics by examining various aspects of the IntELS experience, including academic identity and its influence on the local workplace and utilises the Liability of Foreignness (LOF) theory at the individual level. Additionally, the research examines different levels of international higher education exposure, their implications, the process of academic identity formation, and re-entry concepts. The findings will contribute to the existing knowledge base and provide valuable insights for the development of strategies in international higher education and human resources management, ultimately facilitating a more effective integration process for IntELS in various organisations. This study represents the first known attempt to formally identify and recognise this group of international students as IntELS.