Employment of international education graduates: Issues of economy and resistance to change

Abstract

The use of international scholarship programmes is part of a long-standing approach to human capital development in many developing and middle-income countries that finance studies at universities abroad and locally. Yet, many scholarship alumni struggle to thrive in their home country and encounter numerous difficulties in their transition to the job market. This paper examines the employment experiences

A qualitative inquiry of doctoral students' herding in education and validation of ‘herding in educational decisions’ scale

“…Further, the participants' decisions at the post‐graduate level, particularly their decision to enrol in doctoral education, appear more compatible with their recent interests (like job requirements and financial gains). In line with previous studies, our study also demonstrates the role of socio‐cultural factors such as family, society, environment, personal identity, and economic concerns in individuals' career decisions (Bolat & Odacı, 2017; Jonbekova et al., 2021; Paloú & Drobot, 2010). The participants' views that ‘their peers motivated them to enroll in doctoral programs’ represent the influence of friends and the economic factors in their academic and professional decisions.…”

“…career decisions (Bolat & Odacı, 2017;Jonbekova et al, 2021;Paloú & Drobot, 2010). The participants' views that 'their peers motivated them to enroll in doctoral programs' represent the influence of friends and the economic factors in their academic and professional decisions.…”

“…One may wonder about the role of herding in individuals' decision to enrol in a PhD. The PhD enrolment increased in the past two decades (Denny, 2021; Jonbekova et al., 2021) with the increasing recognition of PhD in many Asian and African countries striving to join the race of knowledge economies (Breier & Herman, 2017). The well‐planned public initiatives back the increasing enrolment in PhD programmes.…”

“…Socio-cultural experiences such as family, society, environment, personal identity, and economic factors also explain individuals' career decisions (Bolat & Odacı, 2017;Jonbekova et al, 2021;Marks et al, 2018;Paloú & Drobot, 2010). Since family members (particularly the parents) deliberately influence their children's future educational decisions (Aguirre & Matta, 2021;Young et al, 1991), adolescents regard their parents as drivers of their career decisions (Fouad et al, 2016).…”

Government scholarships for international higher education: pathways for social change in Kazakhstan

“…Overall, the Bolashak alumni had an advantage in the job market over graduates from local universities. Despite the several challenges (Jonbekova et al, 2021(Jonbekova et al, , 2023Perna et al, 2014), some of them were promoted to senior positions and others were offered leadership roles. It enabled them to bring about changes and innovate systems and practices within their workplaces, specifically through the optimization and automation of work and simplification of processes.…”