An investigation of the push–pull factors influencing student selection of higher education: The case of Arabian Gulf students in theUK

Abstract

The internationalization of students in tertiary education has increased worldwide for the past 20 years. International students (IS) are considered consumers of Higher Education (HE) in host countries and are often a significant contributor to many countries' economies. This paper explores the push and pull factors that influence international Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) students to select Higher Education in the UK as a preferred destination of choice and the potential implications this may have for the wider international student body. The authors utilized face‐to‐face interviews and purposive sampling of 40 undergraduate students from a university in the UK North West. The sample was nationals from Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. NVivo11 software was utilized by the researchers to facilitate data management and analysis. Analysis revealed six main push factors that led those sampled to depart their home country and pursue their university education in the UK. Alternatively, there were 10 pull factors that encouraged GCC students to pursue their university education in the UK. It is imperative that UK Higher Education institutions/universities are cognizant of the push/pull factors that boost GCC international students' intake at their institutions since there is an observable decline in international student numbers in recent years that can negatively impact the said universities and the wider UK economy.

Adjustment challenges and coping strategies of Arab female international university students

“…Students choose to study abroad for various reasons, which may be related to adverse conditions in their home country or to the attractiveness and higher standards of the destination country. Scholars often explain student choices using the “push and pull” model, and recently the McMahon model (1992) has been widely used by researchers studying the movement of students across international borders for educational purposes (Hailat et al, 2022 ). According to McMahon ( 1992 ), the “push” or outbound model describes the disadvantageous factors of a home country that cause students to leave and study abroad, while the “pull” or inbound model describes the attractive qualities of the host country.…”

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“…Students who seek to migrate may also be interested in the USA due to the presence of Optional Practical Training (OPT) opportunities. Primary pull factors that draw students to universities in the United Kingdom are the perceived strength of UK qualifications, high quality learning environments, and an easier visa application process than other countries (Maringe & Carter, 2007;Hailat et al, 2021). Additional pull factors to the UK include learning English from native speakers, opportunities for work or additional education after graduation, and perceived religious tolerance in the country (Hailat et al, 2021).…”

“…Primary pull factors that draw students to universities in the United Kingdom are the perceived strength of UK qualifications, high quality learning environments, and an easier visa application process than other countries (Maringe & Carter, 2007;Hailat et al, 2021). Additional pull factors to the UK include learning English from native speakers, opportunities for work or additional education after graduation, and perceived religious tolerance in the country (Hailat et al, 2021). Due to its proximity to the United States, much of Canada's pull factors are based on a comparison to its southern neighbor.…”

Brand engagement on social media and its impact on brand equity in higher education: integrating the social identity perspective

“…Many factors play a role in prospective higher education students' decisions about which university they want to attend such as institution recognition, learning environment, country image (Hailat et al ., 2022), educational establishments (James-MacEachern and Yun, 2017), employability and community outreach unquestionably take a part in their complex decision-making process. Generation Z members (i.e.…”