Understanding Post-study Migration Plans of International Students through the Lens of Family Business Strategies: Evidence from Thailand-to-China Students

Abstract

International education and onward mobility of international graduates often involve strategies of economic units. This paper contributes to this line of research by examining how post-study migration plans of international students can be geared toward achieving strategic goals of family businesses. Based on survey data among Thais studying in Chinese universities, we find that those with a family business background show a clear intention of short-term sojourn; however, when they are at elite universities or graduate schools, or have ethnic-language links with the host country, chances of leaving immediately upon graduation increase significantly. We argue that their particular mobility patterns may involve business-oriented families' efforts to balance the two strategic goals across borders: succession and internationalization. The present paper calls for a closer look into the particular situations of families to deepen the understanding of international student mobility.