Skilled immigrants: a resettlement information literacy framework

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide an understanding of skilled immigrants’ lived experience of using information to learn about their new setting. Design/methodology/approach Thematic analysis was conducted on a qualitative data set collected through 16 semi-structured interviews with newly arrived skilled immigrants in Australia. Findings The study uncovered six different themes of experiencing using information to learn among skilled immigrants. The themes, presented as a framework, explain skilled immigrants learn about their new life through: attending to shared stories by others; getting engaged; researching; comparing and contrasting past and present; being reflective; and being directly educated. Research limitations/implications The study presents the theory-to-practice translation approach of “information experience design” that enables the enactment of theoretical understanding of information research. Originality/value The study invites, encourages and enables information professionals to take part in interdisciplinary conversations about integration of skilled immigrants in their host countries. Using the presented framework in the study, information professionals will be able to explain skilled immigrants’ learning about their new setting from an information lens. This provides information professionals an opportunity to work with immigration service stakeholders to help them incorporate the presented framework in their real-world practice and service. Such practice and services are of potential to support newly arrived skilled immigrants to become more information literate citizens of the host society who can participate more fully in their host society.

Migrant workers and workforce integration: Challenges for managers in European companies

“…They are "more likely to be engaged simply for their knowledge of the target market, facilitating risk management and market entry" (Enderwick, 2011, p. 87). The mobility of skilled immigrants is of great importance and interest because of the valuable contributions that they make globally (Sayyad Abdi, Partridge, Bruce, & Watson, 2019). They bring a unique culture and complementary skills to their new work environment and approach challenges in different ways.…”

Cultural information needs of long-settled immigrants, their descendants and family members: use of collective and personal information sources about the home country

“…Factors that influence international students' information needs and behaviours are cultural and personal and determined by their host universities (Hertzum and Hyldeg ard, 2019). Skilled immigrants learn about their new life through attending to shared stories by others, getting engaged, researching, comparing and contrasting past and present, being reflective, and being directly educated (Sayyad et al, 2019).…”

The things we carry: migrants' personal collection management and use

“…Research on migrants' information needs and practices shows what information different categories of migrants need and when (Caidi et al. , 2020; Hertzum and Hyldegård, 2019; Sayyad Sayyad Abdi et al. , 2019; Mansour, 2018; Khoir et al.…”

“…As a complex global phenomenon experienced by millions of people (International Organization for Migration, 2019), migration is receiving continuous scholarly attention in many disciplines ranging from sociology, anthropology, human geography, economics, political sciences, history, law and human resource management (Sayyad Abdi et al, 2019). In the information science field, past and recent studies on migrant information behaviour have often focused on areas such as information needs and seeking behaviour, information sources and enablers, and information engagement obstacles in relation to various stages of the settling process.…”

“…In the information science field, past and recent studies on migrant information behaviour have often focused on areas such as information needs and seeking behaviour, information sources and enablers, and information engagement obstacles in relation to various stages of the settling process. Research on migrants' information needs and practices shows what information different categories of migrants need and when (Caidi et al, 2020;Hertzum and Hyldeg ard, 2019;Sayyad Sayyad Abdi et al, 2019;Mansour, 2018;Khoir et al, 2015) and what sources they turn to, to find that information (Benson Marshall et al, 2020;Ndumu, 2020;Rayes et al, 2016). It also shows what factors influence migrants' understanding and use of information in various physical and digital environments (Benson Marshall et al, 2020;Dekker et al, 2018), and how shifting social contexts and cultural norms shape their information behaviour (Allard, 2022;Caidi et al, 2020;Allard and Caidi, 2018;Boamah, 2018).…”