Content area
Full Text
Keywords
Students, Decision making, Learning, Country of origin
Abstract
Examines the factors motivating international student choice of the host country. It describes a "push pull" model motivating the student's desire to seek overseas education and influencing the decision process in selection of a final study destination. Drawing on the findings from research studies undertaken in Indonesia, Taiwan, China and India, the paper examines the factors influencing host country selection and additional research that examines the factors influencing choice of final host institution. Based on these findings the paper argues that economic and social forces within the home country serve to "push" students abroad. However, the decision as to which host country they will select is dependent on a variety of "pull" factors. After drawing together the findings, the paper then examines the implications for governments and education institutions seeking to recruit international students.
Introduction
Why do students choose to study overseas? Demand for education, particularly higher education, has traditionally been driven by expectations of its ability to raise the economic and social status of the graduate. For people in less developed countries, limited access to education in their own countries led to a significant rise in the number of international students studying overseas. Between 1960 and 1970, the average growth in international student flows was around 9 per cent, and continued at about 6 per cent from 1970 to 1980 (Hughes, 1988). While there is some evidence of a slowing in the overall flow of international students during the 1980s and 1990s (Kemp, 1995), a global industry has been created.
The global pattern of international student flows may be explained by a combination of "push and pull" factors that encourage students to study overseas. "Push" factors operate within the source country and initiate a student's decision to undertake international study. "Pull" factors operate within a host country to make that country relatively attractive to international students. Some of these factors are inherent in the source country, some in the host country and others in the students themselves.
A "push-pull" model of international education flows
Many factors influence the demand for international education. A lack of access to higher education among many countries in Asia and Africa has been a key driver for much...