Journal article
Motivations and influences in Chinese international doctoral students’ decision for STEM study abroad
Educational Studies, Vol.44(3), pp.264-278
2018
Abstract
Despite China’s recent remarkable performance in high-quality research, the number of students going abroad to pursue doctoral degrees in STEM fields has been rising rapidly. This study investigates the motivations of Chinese international doctoral students (CIDS) in STEM fields for undertaking a PhD abroad, and the external factors influencing this major life decision. Based on in-depth interviews with 35 CIDS from seven universities in four Australian states, the findings show that for the current generation, enriching life experiences and self-cultivation emerged as most prominent personal motivations. The choice to study abroad, though ultimately a personal decision, was influenced by a range of factors and particularly long-term cooperation between host and home institutions. Both academic and personal reputation of supervisors played important roles in the selection of host institutions. This study may be of value to supervisors and higher education policy-makers, at institutional and government levels in all countries, whether “home” or “host”, invested in sustainable international doctoral education.
Details
- Title
- Motivations and influences in Chinese international doctoral students’ decision for STEM study abroad
- Authors/Creators
- Y. Yang (Author/Creator) - Harbin Institute of TechnologyS. Volet (Author/Creator) - Murdoch UniversityC. Mansfield (Author/Creator) - Murdoch University
- Publication Details
- Educational Studies, Vol.44(3), pp.264-278
- Publisher
- Routledge as part of the Taylor and Francis Group
- Identifiers
- 991005543980907891
- Copyright
- © 2017 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group
- Murdoch Affiliation
- School of Education
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Citation topics
- 6 Social Sciences
- 6.11 Education & Educational Research
- 6.11.1255 International Education
- Web Of Science research areas
- Education & Educational Research
- ESI research areas
- Social Sciences, general