Chinese returnees' conceptions of positive career outcomes after graduating from Australian universities – quantitative findings

Abstract

This paper reports the quantitative findings of a study on conceptions of positive career outcomes held by Chinese students who returned home to work after gaining higher education qualifications in Australia. The study explores what positive career outcomes mean to Chinese returnees, the actual positive career outcomes Chinese returnees have experienced and contributing factors to the positive career outcomes achieved. Both quantitative and qualitative research methods are used and here the analysis of the quantitative findings is presented. The survey data show that Chinese returnees assign greater importance to ‘soft outcomes’ relating to personal and life fulfilment than ‘hard outcomes’ such as employment results. Also, the discrepancy between the returnees’ ideal and actual outcomes is greater in the soft outcomes than the hard outcomes. Statistical analysis indicates three emergent, distinct groups of conceptions of positive career outcomes. The qualitative findings will be presented separately.

Factors for Chinese Students Choosing Australian Higher Education and Motivation for Returning: A Systematic Review

“…Through studying in Australia, Chinese students obtain substantial benefits, including hard currencies and soft currencies. However, among the returnees from Australia, soft outcomes, including personal and life fulfillment, are seen more important than hard outcomes such as employment results (Lin-Stephens, Uesi, & Doherty, 2015). J.…”

The micro-foundations of the returnee liability: The interpersonal challenges of returnee entrepreneurs in Kenya

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Who achieves superior rates of upward social mobility and better labor market outcomes in China: international student returnees or postgraduates who study domestically?

“…It is reported in the literature that UK degrees are considered more valuable for one's career than Chinese degrees are (Counsell 2011). International graduates believe that soft outcomes, related to personal pursuits and life fulfillment, are more important for labor market outcomes than hard outcomes, such as incomes or positions (Lin-Stephens et al 2015). The labor market outcomes of Chinese returnees are thus diverse.…”