Student Mobility Research Articles

University student engagement and mobility from one university to another in private universities in Kenya

The purpose of this study was to determine whether student engagement influences students’ choice of mobility. This study employed a descriptive quantitative survey design. The target population of this study was 26 registered private universities (including private university constituents where mobility rate records are too high) in Nairobi County, Kenya. The research sample size was 180 private university students and nine registrars. Quantitative data was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22.0. Descriptive analysis, inferential statistics, and regression analysis were used to analyse the findings. Descriptive statistics such as percentages, mean scores and standard deviation were computed appropriately. Binary logistic regression analysis was employed to establish the magnitude of the effect on the dependent variables of independent variables. The study concluded that student engagement significantly influences students' mobility in private universities in Nairobi County in Kenya. Institutions of higher learning with up-to-standard student engagement frameworks and platforms attract more clients than those with less student engagement. The study recommended that since economic status does not influence student mobility in private universities, it is prudent not to lower the costs of programmes too much to the extent that it becomes hard to sustain resources that are necessary for the implementation of student engagement frameworks, customer care services, measures of timely completion and quality learning services.

European perspectives on student mobility and competencies in tertiary education - what we have learned in the past 20 years

European perspectives on student mobility and competencies in tertiary education - what we have learned in the past 20 years

Building Resilient Communities: Rapid Response to a Crisis through Nusantara Module’s Character Education and Social Contribution Initiative

The primary objective of this research was to investigate the execution of the Nusantara Module program at Universitas Padjadjaran (Unpad), Indonesia, and examine its impact on participating students, emphasizing the program’s adaptability and response to the Cianjur earthquake catastrophe in 2022. This study used a mixed-method approach, combining the qualitative analysis of program papers and communication with the quantitative analysis of post-program surveys and verbatim analysis of student responses. This research revealed systematic methods such as regular meetings, rapid issue resolution, monthly reporting, rigorous evaluation, and post-program surveys. The findings show that students were quite satisfied with the cultural interchange, academic and non-academic learning experiences, hospitality, excursions, and amenities provided. However, areas for improvement were highlighted, including extending module destinations, resolving financial issues, addressing social integration obstacles, improving communication, addressing facility concerns, and improving program management. The contributions of this study extend to both academia and practice. Academically, this research augments the understanding of program management, student mobility, disaster response, and community engagement within the Indonesian educational landscape. Practically, this study provides a blueprint for educational institutions aiming to enhance the resilience and effectiveness of their programs in times of crisis. By elaborating on the implications and contributions of this research, we underscore its significant and far-reaching impact on educational practices, disaster management strategies, and community well-being.

Tuition Fees for International Students in Norway: A Policy-Debate

Abstract The provision of equitable chances for students from all socioeconomic backgrounds to pursue higher education is a fundamental principle in Norway’s egalitarian educational system. Providing free higher education to domestic and international students, has long been praised. In accordance with this, the Norwegian government has long sought to internationalize higher education, to enhance the quality of higher education. Statistics reveal a rapid increase in the number of international students enrolled during the past decade, indicating that international student mobility, both inbound and outbound, has expanded significantly in Norway. However, the Norwegian government announced the imposition of tuition fees for foreign students attending higher education outside of the European Economic Area (eea) and Switzerland from August 2023. The fundamental free principle in Norwegian higher education has been viewed as being broken by this action, along with the government’s own political platform and party platforms. In relation to international higher education literature and tuition fee policies in other Nordic contexts and beyond, this article addresses the government’s justifications for enacting tuition fees for foreign students in Norway. Additionally, it investigates internationalization of the Higher Education system in Norway by shedding light on the status of internationalization as well as how the Norwegian society has responded to the imposition of tuition fees for international students. By considering elements like revenue generation, academic diversity, global competitiveness, and social inclusion, the article further emphasizes the potential implications for the landscape of Norwegian higher education and its position in the worldwide arena. With this policy debate, we aim to contribute to the continuing discussion about international students’ tuition fees and offer insightful information to policymakers, practitioners, and scholars working in international higher education.

College Students and Class Attendance: How Poverty and Illbeing Affect Student Success through Punitive Attendance Policies

This study examines the prevalence of poverty and illbeing among students attending a large urban university and investigates how these challenges affect attendance, including how failure to meet attendance requirements may negatively influence course outcomes for these students. Through an anonymous survey, 520 students responded to questions asking about professor inflexibility, food insecurity, housing insecurity, depression, anxiety, and chronic illness. Over half of survey respondents reported having some degree of food and housing insecurity, and over half reported having anxiety, depression, or chronic illness. A multiple regression analysis demonstrated that punitive attendance policies disproportionally impact students living in poverty and those who experience anxiety, depression, or other forms of chronic illness. Several students reported that inflexible attendance policies have led them to a lowered grade, course failure, or course withdrawal to avoid failure, even when they otherwise had a passing grade. Examining professorial power through French and Raven’s six power bases, I invite faculty to think about the ways in which their power intersects with students and the opportunities that course policies provide to actively contribute to social mobility for students facing opportunity gaps.

Transformation of the Russian Higher Education System

The Russian higher education system has undergone significant transformation over the past century, with major changes occurring in the pre-Soviet, Soviet, and post-Soviet eras. In recent years, the system has been shaped by the introduction of the Bologna Process, changes in the structure of degrees, and the emergence of private universities. State funding and student financial assistance have played a critical role in financing higher education, as has the financing of research. Quality assurance measures have been implemented through accreditation of institutions, quality assessment of programs, and ranking of universities. The internationalization of higher education has been promoted through mobility of students and faculty, internationalization of curricula, and collaboration with international partners. Despite progress, the system faces challenges related to demographic changes, brain drain, and the need to develop a knowledge economy. Understanding these dynamics is important for policymakers, researchers, and students seeking to engage with the Russian higher education system.

The Impact of Merdeka Belajar Curriculum on English Language Teaching in International Institute of Business and Tourism.


 
 
 
 This research aims to the impact of freedom learning curriculum on English language teaching in International Institute Of Business And Tourism. This research uses descriptive qualitative. Data collection methods are interviews and documentation. Data analysis using data reduction, data display, data verification. research results The Merdeka Belajar curriculum has had a significant impact on English language teaching at the International Business and Tourism Institute. In this context, there are several important points that can be drawn as conclusions. The Merdeka Belajar curriculum has significantly improved English language teaching at the International Business and Tourism Institute by providing flexibility in learning, emphasis on practical skills, use of technology, increased international mobility of students, and improved quality of education. This prepares students to compete in the global business and tourism environment.
 
 
 

Study on the Working Mechanism of Public Health Security in Colleges and Universities in the Post-Epidemic Era

The high concentration of personnel in colleges and universities is an easy place for public health events. The lack of awareness of public health crisis among teachers and students, the high mobility of students and the difficulty of Public Health Security Prevention make the campus a weak place for public health prevention. The outbreak and global spread of 2019-nCoV had a tremendous impact on social, economy, life and way of thinking, which posed a severe test on public health safety. In the post-epidemic era, under the situation of normal epidemic prevention and control, how to establish and perfect the mechanism of public health safety in colleges and universities, to deal with public health emergencies and to strengthen the management of Public Health Safety in colleges and universities is worthy of deep thought and great attention. By means of the study on the mechanism of public health safety in colleges and universities in the post-epidemic era, this paper emphasizes the importance of public health safety in colleges and universities, analyzes the deficiencies in the management of public health in colleges and universities, and establishes the working mechanism of public health safety in colleges and universities. This can strengthen joint-prevention and control campus public health safety management, enhance the capacity of rapid handling of public health emergencies, to ensure the safety of life and health of teachers and students.

International student mobility to China: The effects of government scholarship and Confucius Institute

Government scholarship plays an active role in attracting foreign students and promoting higher education exports. As a culture and education platform, Confucius Institute is also likely to affect the number of foreign students in China. Using the data from 188 countries over the 2003-2018 period, we find globally both attract more international students to China. In addition, government scholarship has stronger impacts on degree-seeking students whereas Confucius Institute affects non-degree-seeking students more. At the continental level, government scholarship remains effective, particularly for degree-seeking students. Confucius Institute, however, display opposing impacts for different continents. As the number of the Institute increases in a country, there will be more foreign students if the continent is of higher income, geographically more distant from China, or culturally less exposed to China; and vice versa. Globally and for most continents, we observe Confucius Institute affects the positive effect of Chinese government scholarship. The results offer policy implications for government scholarship allocation decisions.

Students or internationals? Divergent patterns of governing international student mobility in Germany and the United Kingdom

This article investigates how Germany and the United Kingdom (UK) have governed international student mobility (ISM) over the last two decades. While both are among the most popular destinations for international students and have experienced similar political trajectories during this period, they have pursued divergent education and immigration policies in regulating ISM. Driven by a mix of educational universalism and fear of future labor shortages, Germany offers financial benefits and generous right to stay opportunities. The UK, by contrast, combines high tuition fees with restrictive immigration policies, favoring students who will leave the country upon graduation. Drawing on a variety of parliamentary reports, policy documents, and interviews with politicians and civil servants, I argue that this divergence is rooted primarily in the different politicizability of ISM: international students are discursively treated as students (belonging to the non-politicized field of education) in Germany but as internationals (belonging to the hyperpoliticized field of immigration) in the UK.

Cosmopolitan pathways from the Global South: How non‐middle‐class students become desirable Fulbright applicants

AbstractInternational student mobility (ISM) is largely interpreted as a global middle‐class capital accumulation strategy. Cosmopolitanism, which is the named outcome and effect of these mobile forms of social and cultural capital, is therefore disproportionately available to already privileged students. This study moves beyond this prevailing interpretation by examining how students from working‐ or lower‐middle‐class families with limited resources in Global South countries combine bottom‐up cosmopolitanism with educational mobility to get selected into highly competitive spaces, such as the Fulbright Foreign Student Program, the most prestigious educational and cultural program in the United States. Based on 20 in‐depth interviews with successful Fulbright applicants and participant observation, my findings suggest that working‐ and lower‐middle‐class applicants are largely successful because of their cosmopolitan dispositions which they cultivate in creative and agentive ways. This article adds texture and complexity to existing discussions on middle‐class hegemony in ISM and cosmopolitan subject‐making.

Federal Servants of Inclusion? The Governance of Student Mobility in Canada and the EU

Student mobility constitutes a core pillar of higher education internationalisation. Reflecting wider global trends, Canada and the EU have increasingly prioritised equity and inclusion in their student mobility programmes. Canada’s Global Skills Opportunity programme, launched in 2021, provides federal funding specifically to low-income students, students with disabilities, and Indigenous students. The EU’s Erasmus Programme has a long-standing tradition of community-building through inclusive student mobility. This article traces the principle of inclusion as a mobility rationale and analyses the role of the federal government in Canada and the European Commission in the EU supporting it. Using a policy framing lens, this study compares problem definitions, policy rationales, and solutions for federal/supranational involvement in student mobility. Findings show that inclusiveness has been an underlying silent value, yet it has mostly supported larger political and economic goals in both contexts.

An analytic strategy for data processing of multimode networks

Complex network data structures are considered to capture the richness of social phenomena and real-life data settings. Multipartite networks are an example in which various scenarios are represented by different types of relations, actors, or modes. Within this context, the present contribution aims at discussing an analytic strategy for simplifying multipartite networks in which different sets of nodes are linked. By considering the connection of multimode networks and hypergraphs as theoretical concepts, a three-step procedure is introduced to simplify, normalize, and filter network data structures. Thus, a model-based approach is introduced for derived bipartite weighted networks in order to extract statistically significant links. The usefulness of the strategy is demonstrated in handling two application fields, that is, intranational student mobility in higher education and research collaboration in European framework programs. Finally, both examples are explored using community detection algorithms to determine the presence of groups by mixing up different modes.

The Impact of International Student Mobility on Multicultural Competence and Career Development: The Case of Students from Latin America and the Caribbean in Barcelona

Every year, an increasing number of students decide to study abroad in non-English-speaking countries, and Spain is recently a very popular destination within Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) communities. This paper attempts to deepen our knowledge of the impact of international student mobility (ISM) on students’ multicultural identity and career development. To do so, the experiences of 10 LAC students who completed a one-year degree programme in Barcelona are examined. Semi-structured interviews were employed to evaluate the international experiences one year after their completion. During their post-mobility interviews, participants were able to reflect on the ISM through a structured dialogue that allowed them to analyse the experience from a distance. Findings indicate that the ISM helped them to grow personally and professionally and, one year after the stay, they are aware of this evolution. They show an increase in their self-confidence, and they see the experience as an opportunity for personal maturity. This suggests that universities should consider the importance of offering guidance to these students when they end their master’s degree and are considering their plans for the future.

International students’ linguistic entrepreneurship: motivation, ‘Chinese fever’ and the neoliberal burden

ABSTRACT Against the backdrop of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the number of educational migrants from the member states, particularly African international students, has dramatically increased over the past decade in China. Much of previous research on international student mobility (ISM) and its ensuing language learning has exclusively focused on the East-West flow of students and their investment in English, while ignoring the emerging atypical ‘South-South’ migration pattern and rise of Chinese as a global language. Engaging with interviews with 59 African international students, I trace their ways of thinking and approaches to Chinese language learning which strongly resonate with practices of ‘linguistic entrepreneurship’, as each of them demonstrate self-responsibilisation and constant self-development, while suffering a growing sense of linguistic insecurity. This article debunks the myth of English as the sole language for socioeconomic success, while making a unique contribution to theorising the previously under-recognised value of the Chinese language with the changing global matrices of power.

The Contribution of Indonesian International Student Mobility Awards (IISMA) on the Development of Employability Skills of Undergraduate Students in Indonesia

Indonesia has the second highest youth unemployment rate among all ten ASEAN countries according to The World Bank Data in 2021, with 12% of the total unemployment rate dominated by bachelor graduates. One of the reasons behind youth unemployment in Indonesia is the mismatch between the skills possessed by university students and the labor market skills demand, referred to as the "skill gap." Experts believe that such a high number of youth unemployment is often linked to the failure of educational institutions to develop graduates with employability skills. Moreover, the skills gap is also associated with globalization in the 21st century, followed by new government regulations that ease hiring foreign workers in Indonesia. In this era, Indonesian graduates have to compete with employees from foreign countries, thus making international and multicultural knowledge desired by companies. To tackle these challenges posed by globalization and the quality of education, many higher education and government institutions are implementing one of the most prominent forms of internalization, international student mobility programs, hoping to prepare bachelor graduates to be more competitive internationally. In 2021, the Indonesian government displayed its effort to prepare Indonesian graduates to possess valuable workplace skills in the 21st century through funded international student mobility, namely IISMA (Indonesian International Student Mobility Awards). However, despite the enormous efforts of implementing the program, there are still many contra-arguments from higher education institutions and Indonesian society regarding the contribution of IISMA in developing the employability skills of undergraduate students. This study is aimed to identify the contribution of IISMA di developing the employability skills of undergraduate students in Indonesia and to see whether it has a difference with the development of employability skills in regular Indonesian undergraduate programs. This study used a qualitative approach using semi-structured interviews with the interviewees from Universitas Indonesia, Institut Teknologi Bandung, and Universitas Gadjah Mada, who completed an IISMA program in 2021 and 2022. The study discovered that most employability skills desired by companies are mainly developed during the IISMA program compared to an undergraduate program in Indonesia.

Econometrics Modelling Approach to Examine the Effect of STEM Policy Changes on Asian Student’s Enrollment Decision in USA

Academic research has shown significant interest in international student mobility, with previous literature primarily focusing on the migration industry from a political and public policy perspective. For many countries, international student mobility plays a crucial role in bolstering their economies through financial gains and attracting skilled immigrants. While previous studies have explored the determinants of mobility and country economic policies, only a few have examined the impact of policy changes on mobility trends. In this study, the researchers investigate the influence of immigration policy changes, particularly the optional practical training (OPT) extension on STEM programs, on Asian students' preference for enrolling in STEM majors at universities. The study utilizes observational data and employs a quasi-experimental design, analysing the information using the difference-in-difference technique. The findings of the research indicate that the implementation of the STEM extension policy in 2008 has a significant effect on Asian students' decisions to enroll in a STEM major. Additionally, the study highlights the noteworthy role of individual factors such as the specific STEM major, terminal degree pursued, and gender in influencing Asian students' enrollment decisions.

THE STUDENTS’ PERCEPTION ON ONLINE LEARNING DURING THE PANDEMIC COVID-19: THE CASE OF ENGLISH STUDENTS OF UIN SULTHAN THAHA SAIFUDDIN JAMBI

The objectives of the research to find out the students’ perception on online learning during the covid-19 at the Fifth Semester of English Education Department in UIN Sulthan Thaha Saifuddin Jambi in the year 2021/2022. The researcher used qualitative research as design method because it was comparable to collect the data from students’ perception, and gave interview to collecting the data. The data was collected from the fifth semester which have been learned using online learning. The sample were 3 students selected by purposive sampling. The research found that the majority of students had a positive perception of online learning based on the results of their interviews. They improved their learning through online learning and found a new understanding of the new media used by the lecturer in media online learning. On the other hand, some students gave perception that online learning has obstacles affected by a poor network, the quality of the student's mobile phone, and the capacity of the online learning application.

Relationship of Cultural Intelligence, Student’s Innovative Work Behavior and The Influence of Interpersonal Trust

Rapidly shifting market due to globalization increases the nation's demand for young innovators. Innovators from Generation Z are needed to support the future growth of Indonesia. There are several Indonesian Government initiatives to elevate Indonesian education to grow innovations, such as establishing an international student mobility scholarship program. However, research on how the program can increase innovative work behavior for Indonesian students is still unclear. This research aims to investigate how Indonesian students perceive the impact of international student mobility on their innovative work behavior, focusing on the role of cultural intelligence and its effect on innovative work behavior through interpersonal trust. A quantitative approach was adopted for this study to examine the relationships between the variables with the assistance of SmartPLS 4.0 software. An online questionnaire was distributed to 302 respondents consisting of Indonesian students who had completed the Indonesian International Student Mobility Awards program in 2022 from all host country regions. This study demonstrates that students with higher cultural intelligence positively influence their individual innovative work behavior. Interpersonal trust also influences the process as a mediating role in the relationship between cultural intelligence and innovative work behavior among students in multicultural environments. This study can be a reference for future research and stakeholders to improve education quality by focusing on the impact of cultural intelligence on students' innovative work behavior in the context of cross-cultural interaction, specifically Indonesian students that participate in international student mobility programs from the Indonesian government. Such research has not been explored extensively beforehand, making this study valuable addition to the pedagogy and management science field.

Exploring key themes and trends in international student mobility research —A systematic literature review

PurposeThe global landscape of higher education has witnessed a steady increase in the mobility of international students, as more individuals seek diverse academic experiences and cross-cultural learning opportunities. This paper conducts a systematic literature review to investigate trends, research directions and key themes in the literature. By utilising the push–pull factor model the aim is to provide a comprehensive understanding of the factors influencing international students' choices to pursue higher education and future career opportunities abroad.Design/methodology/approachA systematic literature review approach was applied. The selection was made using PRISMA framework-based inclusion and exclusion criteria. The review includes 43 publications from 2010 to 2022.FindingsThe review results revealed five themes of scholarly conversations labelled as (1) betterment of life, (2) policy of the host country, (3) role of institutions, (4) return to home country and (5) social, economic, environmental, individual and cultural factors. The findings emphasise on the significance of factors such as the quality of education, visa requirements, academic reputation, tuition fees, availability of scholarships, job opportunities, social, economic, environmental, individual and cultural factors. The paper also identifies language barriers, visa policies and social integration difficulties as major barriers to international students' stay in the host country after graduation.Originality/valueThis research enhances the current body of literature by conducting a comprehensive analysis of the empirical evidence available in literature that investigates the mobility of international students. The outcomes of this study will make a valuable contribution towards developing a more profound comprehension of the primary factors that influence international students' decision to pursue their education abroad.